Mikaela Bandini ~ Palestra & AREA 8
Born in South Africa, Mikaela Bandini moved to Italy in 1992. She founded some of the first online travel projects in Italy like Viaggi di Architettura and Urban Italy, online tour operators specialized in architecture and design with curated itineraries around the world and design experiences in Italy.
She works mainly in territorial branding strategies and visual content development for tourism promotion, collaborating in Italy with numerous public institutions and private clients.
Studies in industrial psychology and communication, combined with a strong passion for architecture and design, led Mikaela to create the brand AREA 8: initially a cocktail bar and bistro, later an event venue, a line of products, an e-commerce platform.
Recently she launched AREA 8 ROOMS, a project dedicated to the restoration of abandoned historic buildings in Southern Italy that she transforms into unique hospitality spaces, open to multiple uses beyond the classic overnight stay. All spaces are furnished with original Italian design pieces from the 20th century and host home dinners and small events. After launching the pilot project in Nardò, Salento, she has three new sites in the pipeline, opening between 2026 and 2027. Bandini lives between Matera, Salento and Cape Town.
Mikaela@DAI:
July 2026 ~ for Confluence#7 DAI & Palesta|AREA 8 are in a hosting-guesting cultural partnership
March 2026 ~ for Confluence#4 DAI & Palesta|AREA 8 are in a hosting-guesting cultural partnership