Politecnico di Milano is one of the leading technical universities in Europe. Founded in 1863, it is the largest school of architecture, design and engineering in Italy. It is one of Italy’s most important urban and regional planning research structures, embedded in a well-established international network of centres of excellence. It is open to cooperation with institutional and social actors at the local, national, and international levels. 

The Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (Dipartimento di Architettura e Studi Urbani – DAStU) is a thematic and interdisciplinary research structure established in January 2013 at Politecnico di Milano.  
The Department deals with architectural and urban projects, spatial planning and territorial governance, urban policy, conservation and intervention on heritage and natural environment, and historical and critical interpretation of architecture, city, territory and landscape. It also contributes to the education and training of architects and urban planners at Politecnico di Milano.  
Within UNLOCK THE CITY!, the Politecnico di Milano’s role is centered on creating a multidisciplinary, innovative, and scientifically grounded framework within which to develop the different stages of the project.