As an architect, Renée del Gaudio has long considered Machu Picchu to be the world’s finest example of architecture integrating with a landscape. She holds an M.A. in Architecture from the University of Washington in Seattle and runs her own architecture practice. Her designs have been published in Dwell, Metropolitan Home, and House Beautiful, which ranked her as one of the Top 25 Next Wave Designers in America. She is an avid backpacker and has traveled widely throughout Europe, Asia, and Latin America.