In the newest installment of the “From Children to Entrepreneurs” series, Jordan Mozzanica speaks with Davide Luraschi, owner of Luraschi e De Dionigi Associati, to explore a generational transition now in its fourth iteration within one of Milan’s and Italy’s most longstanding engineering and safety companies.
The roots: four generations raised on engineering
The story of the Luraschi firm does not stem from pressure or obligation, but from a choice that unfolded naturally. Davide represents the fourth generation of a family completely dedicated to engineering: from his great-grandfather and his grandfather down to his father and, for a stretch, his uncles and cousins as well. It was an environment he absorbed from his childhood, when his grandfather would take him to construction sites to watch buildings take shape, or his father would bring him along to visit clients and see facilities, theaters, museums and hospitals firsthand. Although his family never pushed him toward any particular university, wanting to leave him complete freedom of choice, Davide’s future was already taking shape through his innate passion for engineering and problem solving.
Earning his stripes before entering the family business
One of the most important and forward-thinking principles passed down by Davide’s father was the importance of looking beyond the family business. The firm’s unwritten rule was clear: “If you want to come work with us, first you need to work elsewhere.” Davide started out with a series of internships during his university years, including one in Africa, in Dar es Salaam, where he got his first taste of applying classroom theory in the real world. He later spent five years working as a Project Manager for a real estate company in Milan, managing several notable real estate development projects. Only after building his own professional experience outside the family firm and landing a major client on his own did Davide officially join his father’s practice.
The generational transition and learning under his uncle’s guidance
Davide’s entry into the family firm was handled with the same foresight. To avoid the natural complexities of a direct father-son working relationship, the founder preferred that Davide work under the supervision of his uncle, who at the time was also a partner in the firm. This allowed Davide to gain experience within the company in an objective way, initially focusing on areas far removed from his father’s work, such as the rehabilitation, restoration and preservation of protected historic and architectural heritage, including landmark buildings, castles and sports complexes throughout Milan.
A lightning bolt moment: from fire protection to the “science of safety”
At first, Davide had no interest in working in fire prevention, a field he initially considered dry and limited to the rote application of codes and regulations. His father, however, had been a true pioneer in the sector, helping transform fire protection into a genuinely engineering-driven discipline. The real turning point, or “lightning bolt” moment, came when Davide was brought in to address fire safety during the restoration of a castle that was being converted into a museum. It was there that he understood the holistic value of this profession: it was not about choosing aesthetic finishes, but about applying the scientific method to safeguard lives and assets.
Carrying the weight of a family name while looking to the future
Carrying a last name associated with three or four generations of respected professionals comes with enormous responsibility and a deep sense of duty. Davide does not shy away from discussing the challenges he faced, from academic obstacles designed to test his true determination to major organizational changes within the firm. During the Covid period, he reshaped the structure of the practice by ending certain partnerships and opening the company to new partners from outside the family circle (first becoming Luraschi e Associati Ingegneria e Architettura and now Luraschi De Dionigi Associati Ingegneria e Architettura), bound not by blood, but by the same ethical code, professional standards and a deep commitment to their work.
Young people, Artificial Intelligence and pro bono work: a vision for the future
Today, alongside his professional work, Davide is also involved in teaching. He teaches Fire Safety Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano through a structured two-part course that he developed himself and aims to foster a true culture of fire safety. Today, the firm is made up of many young professionals, often former students of his, in whom he firmly believes. When it comes to new technologies and Artificial Intelligence, Davide sees them as extraordinary tools, but also potentially dangerous ones if not supported by solid foundational knowledge: “AI is an incredible tool for those who already know their field, but those who think they can acquire real knowledge through AI alone fail miserably. AI does not and cannot have a conscience, which remains uniquely human.”
Looking ahead, his objective is ambitious: the creation of a non-profit organization dedicated to providing pro bono consulting services for charities and other worthy initiatives. It is a choice driven by an old yet ever relevant principle: profit is necessary, but it must always be tied to the ability to create value and serve the greater good.