Design Principal:

 

 

 

 

Rhonna del Rio-Ascolese was born into a family of Construction and Architecture: a great-grandfather who owned a construction company, a grandfather who designed and built custom houses, and a civil engineer and architect father.  Despite her strong ancestral background, she never felt any pressure to pursue a career in the same field.   Unaware of it at the time, Rhonna commenced her career in Architecture the day she went to her father's construction site at the age of five.  As she sat quietly on top of the pile of excavated dirt, she let her imagination run wild.  By the age of fourteen she developed her first collection of custom design floor plans and exterior perspectives.

 

    In 1996, she began her five year Architecture program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.  For her fourth year, Rhonna was accepted into a year long study abroad program in Florence, Italy.  She was greatly enriched from her experiences abroad and frequently revisits them for inspiration.  In 2001, Rhonna received her Bachelor in Architecture degree with Concours d'Elegance High Honors and was a recipient of the AIA (American Intitute of Architects) Certificate of GPA and Design Merit. 

 

"I have had Rhonna for two quarters in the design studio , and I have found that although she is first quiet and unassuming, she is a very talented, and hard working young architect." - William Adams, FAIA, Chair Architecture Department

 

 

She initiated her career in Architecture working for the elite and world renowned Architect Richard Meier.  During her several years of experience at the firm she was a collaborator from design phase to construction documents. Some of the projects she had collaborated in are high profile projects such as San Jose Civic Center, Broad Art Center at UCLA and currently in the works - San Diego Federal Courthouse. Some  of her published CAD drawings can be found in GA Museum vol.74,  Civic Builders Book, Beach House,  GA Houses vol. 70, Richard Meier Monograph Book 4 and 2003 Richard Meier - Published by Electa.  

 

"Versatility has enabled Rhonna to understand and produce at many scales, making her a most valuable and exemplary young architect. I recommend her without hesitation."   -Partner, Michael Palladino, AIA

   Moving forward from Richard Meier and Partners in 2004, Rhonna became an independent consultant for several well known and award winning Architecture Firm. By early 2005, she became business partners with Gregg Maedo, an architect known for his architecture technical expertise and their union resulted to the birth of Autonomy Architecture & Design. Since then, the firm has been involved in various custom houses and international design competitions. Rhonna occasionally teaches commercial design at FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) and continues her own self-education by traveling the world to look for inspiration.    She also grew supportive for the growing practice of Wellness and Being and  today she offers Feng Shui analysis  and design to anyone seeking to incorporate Harmony and Balance into their lives.  Rhonna is in the process of growing another outlet of creativity via www.otonome.net  there she is exploring independently other ways to create and grow her individuality.

 

Rhonna looks for perceptive, poetic, and innovative solutions in all her design work; her goal is not to be different but to introduce her work as timeless.  She often speaks of her design through experiential manner from the point of view of the user. Rhonna del Rio-Ascolese is always reinventing herself and still manages to keep her poetic language pure with compassion.

 

 

Architect, Technical Director:

 

Gregg Maedo...