Representation
Embedded Baths:
While studying abroad in Italy, Mia’s studio focused on designing a thermal bath complex embedded in the Tuscan countryside. Set within a quarry, the project aimed to merge site-specific elements with the atmospheric and ritualistic qualities of a traditional Turkish bath. The design emphasized a sensory journey, an intentional, reflective ascent along the quarry wall followed by a serene, spiritual descent through a sequence of bathing spaces.
The program was divided into a central treatment and hamam hub, complemented by three cylindrical bathhouses. This separation emphasized circulation and mirrored the ceremonial progression found in historic bath culture. Varying dome structures and lighting strategies evoked a celestial ambiance, reinforcing the quiet spirituality of the Turkish bathing tradition.
Professor: Luca Ponsi
Partner: Padmini Rajan
Caldera Community:
This resort-style ecotourism project served as the tourist hub within a collaborative studio masterplan for a community in the Caldera Volcano. Inspired by glamping and the rise of ecotourism, the design focused on creating a natural, immersive experience through modular hotel units nestled in the forest and connected by sloped pathways.
At the site’s highest point, an elevated pavilion welcomed visitors while blurring the line between indoor and outdoor space. The project supported the studio’s larger goal of fostering a bottom-up, community-driven development rooted in environmental and experiential design.
Professor: Joel Kerner
Mia Petrillo 