ilaria mazzoleni

Ilaria Mazzoleni is an architect, biomimicist, and the founder of IM Studio Milano/Los Angeles (www.imstudio.us). She lives and works between Italy and California. Her conceptual work in the fields of sustainable architecture and biomimicry has been published internationally, leading to invitations to numerous conferences and workshops, and publications in several international architectural magazines. Prior to joining CalArts, Ilaria was Design and Applied Studies faculty member at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) in Los Angeles for over twelve years, and visiting lecturer at USC, UCLA and the Art Center, among other institutions. Her research focus is biomimicry, where innovation in architecture and design is inspired by the processes and functions of nature. Collaborating with biologists and other scientists from top research institutions, her projects explore the connections between biotic and abiotic elements within eco-systems in order to develop sustainable urban planning strategies and address solutions to global climate change. An ongoing research program has centered on understanding how organisms have evolved and adapted to their environment, and applying that knowledge to design building façades. The conceptual implications arising from biomimetics and design have led to a body of work that investigates innovative material processes, forms, geometries and structural patterns. In 2015, Ilaria founded Nature, Art and Habitat, a multidisciplinary residency summer program in Val Taleggio, BG, Italy. Her book, Architecture Follows Nature – Biomimetic Principles for Innovative Design, was published by CRC Press. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the School of Architecture at the Polytechnic of Milan, Italy, and a Master of Building Science from the University of Southern California's School of Architecture.