Born in Rome, she graduated in architecture and came to Brazil in 1946. Together with Pietro Bardi and Giancarlo Palanti, she created the Palma Art Studio in 1948, which was in operation until 1950, as well as the Pau-Brasil Furniture Factory, which was sold to the Hauner brothers in 1951. Between 1955 and 1959 she was a professor of architecture at the University of São Paulo. She designed the São Paulo Art Museum (MASP), which was inaugurated in 1968.