Safe heavens: a new way to rest at the airport : get ready to understand the importance of resting at the aiport

This thesis began with a personal experience—spending a night inside Milan Malpensa, that revealed how airports transform after hours. In that moment, the terminal shifted from a place of movement to a temporary habitat where travelers improvised comfort, protected their belongings, and navigated the tension between rest and alertness. Those observations, combined with the stories of others who experienced similar nights, highlighted a clear gap between the airport’s intended design and the real needs of people who stay overnight: warmth, safety, privacy, and the simple ability to rest without stress. From this starting point, the project evolved into a search for more empathetic airport environments, where comfort is not treated as a luxury but as a fundamental part of the experience. The concept of “safe heavens” grew from imagining spaces that could offer calm, protection, and human warmth within the rigid infrastructure of a terminal. By blending real user insights with design principles drawn from natural sanctuaries, the thesis aims to show that even highly technical spaces can support emotional well-being and dignity during long waits.