She received a BA in European history from Harvard College and a professional M.Arch. and Ph.D. in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Her research spans from the 16th to the 21st century and centers on the shaping of urban landscapes around water and infrastructures. Her studies address technology, as well as the role of techniques of artistic production and scientific inquiry in relation to architectural design. Within this context, she traces a history of ideas of nature, health, and civic life.