Ilva grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey, outside of Philadelphia. From early childhood she was intrigued by how things are constructed, ultimately leading her to study architecture. From the start it felt like a perfect fit, supporting her love of building and balancing her interests in art and science.
She received her Bachelor of Science in Art and Design from M.I.T. before heading west to earn her Master of Architecture at the University of Washington. While at UW, she took part in the design build studio and the furniture studio, both reinforcing her interest in hands-on building and designing details. After graduation she settled in Seattle and has spent more than fifteen years working on a variety of projects from public works facilities to schools.
The interest in using existing buildings and materials to their fullest potential and the opportunity to work on new and varied types of projects drew Ilva to Hinge. She is excited to continue creating functional and beautiful designs in this new setting.
In her free time, Ilva enjoys a variety of handcrafts and has always been an avid reader. She is often found curled up with her cats and a good book or her latest knitting project.
