Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 28: Beyond Laudatory Texts, Soumya Dasgupta

This episode features a candid, critical conversation with Soumya Dasgupta on the intersection of architecture, media, and political economy in India and the West. The episode exposes the dominance of architects’ narratives, the absence of criticality, and the systemic inequalities within the profession. Soumya challenges the status quo, urging for uncomfortable but necessary dialogues about power, capital, and the future of architectural practice.

Guest: Soumya Dasgupta

Designation: Architectural Scholar

Bio: Soumya is a Ph.D. Candidate in Architecture (History and Theory) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA. He is a recipient of the Humanities Research Institute Graduate Fellowship and the Illinois Distinguished Fellowship. He holds a certificate from the School of Criticism and Theory, Cornell University. He holds a Master's in Urban Design from SPA Delhi and a B.Arch. from IIEST Shibpur (Erstwhile BESU Shibpur).

His scholarly interests include neoliberal developmentalism, digital technocracy, the Global South, and South Asia, and his Ph.D. dissertation broadly explores the contested systems of architectural production in the rapidly transforming context of  21st-century urban India.

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

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Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2025 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 27: Politics of Representation, Fahad Zuberi

Fahad Zuberi delivers a sharp, historically grounded critique of how architecture is represented in India, tracing its journey from the ancient glorification of rulers to the colonial manipulation of meaning and the current dominance of PR-driven narratives. He argues that all representation is inherently political, shaped by the values and goals of those in power, and warns against the dilution of meaning when criticality is replaced by commercialism. Fahad distinguishes genuine critique—rooted in hope, ethical responsibility, and the aspiration for a better future—from cynicism and empty praise, emphasizing the need for rigorous theory, public engagement, and investment in the humanities. He calls for a clear separation between PR and criticism, urges architectural media to reclaim meaning and judgment, and insists that building a thoughtful, critical discourse is essential for shaping the worlds we want to inhabit.

Guest: Fahad Zuberi

Designation: Academic & Columnist, Doctoral Scholar (Architectural History, Theory & Criticism)—Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

Bio: Fahad is an academic and columnist, currently pursuing a PhD at MIT's Department of Architecture HTC. His work focuses on the intersection of architecture and violence, particularly in South Asian contexts. Fahad studied B. Arch at Aligarh Muslim University, an M. Arch HTC at CEPT University, Ahmedabad, and then pursued an MSc in Modern South Asian Studies at the University of Oxford as the Indira Gandhi Radhakrishnan Scholar with the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development, where he was awarded the Archibald Jackson Prize 2024 and Scholars Development Award 2024 for his work on Domicide.

Fahad has taught Architecture and Design Philosophy at CEPT University and at the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad as visiting faculty and is a columnist and political commentator with several Indian platforms, such as The Indian Express, The Hindu, The Wire, and The Hindustan Times. Fahad has also worked as a comics journalist and in electoral politics, and seldom composes music. He is the Producer of Mutant: The Democracy Podcast—conceived as a contemporary dictionary of politics—with the Institute of New Global Politics, Cal Poly Pomona, and his first feature-length film as a Music Director - Kayo Kayo Colour?—premiered at IFF, Rotterdam 2023.

LinkedIn | Facebook | X/Twitter | MIT Portal

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Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2025 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 18: Design Influencing, Sagar Saoji

In episode 18 of the talks, our friendly neighborhood design influencer Sagar Saoji takes us on his content journey! He goes in-depth into the metrics of modern-day content creation, and amalgamating it into an architectural practice. Listen on to know his views on influencing and practicing architecture in today's world, the challenges, and the financials that come with it!

Guest: Sagar Saoji

Designation: Architect, Founder - f.y.i.arch

Bio: Ar. Sagar Saoji is an architect turned content creator and the visionary behind the popular brand f.y.i.arch. A graduate of Sinhgad College of Architecture in 2016, Sagar hails from Nagpur, Maharashtra, and has become a prominent voice in the architecture community.

In March 2020, Sagar launched f.y.i.arch, a dynamic social media platform on Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn, dedicated to exploring and celebrating the world of architecture. His platform is renowned for its unique and engaging content, offering updates on the latest developments in architectural design, projects, materials, and innovations from around the globe. Additionally, f.y.i.arch features exclusive design podcasts, making it a comprehensive resource for both budding and seasoned architects, as well as architecture enthusiasts.

With over 200K+ followers on Instagram, Sagar has built a thriving community that shares his passion for architecture. His mission through f.y.i.arch is to make architecture accessible and exciting for everyone. He aims to help architects, designers, and non-designers alike understand the nuances of architecture, stay informed about new projects, materials, and advancements in the field, and navigate the evolving landscape of architectural practice.

In 2023, Sagar was honoured with the 'Best Architectural Reviewer' award by Lokmat, a testament to his expertise and influence in the field.

Through f.y.i.arch, Sagar continues to bridge the gap between clients and architects, sharing knowledge, and making architecture a more engaging and enjoyable experience for all.

⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Threads | ⁠Facebook⁠

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Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2025 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 17: Find Your Tribe, Kedar Nimkar

In episode 17 of the talks, Kedar decodes podcasting in today's world. He talks of finding one's tribe and on the importance of consistency and routine! He discusses the avenues of monetizing a knowledge podcast, and he places focus on prioritizing the joy of content creation over immediate financial goals. Listen on to know his important take on what he calls infotainment, stimulating both mind and senses!

Guest: Kedar Nimkar

Designation: Host, The Gyan Project (formerly Audiogyaan)

Bio: Kedar serves as the Director of Design at ⁠PropertyGuru⁠, an online property marketplace headquartered in Singapore. Having contributed significantly to notable companies such as Webchtuney, Cleartrip, Jupiter, and BookMyShow as head of Design, Kedar has established a reputation for crafting remarkable experiences, leading teams, and crafting digital products.

Apart from design, Kedar is also known for Audiogyan Podcast. He is a curator, producer, and host of Audiogyan. He has documented more than 300 conversations with luminaries from the Indian creative world.

Kedar’s passion for print and physical products led him to create Legends of India. This is a work-in-progress project.

LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

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Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2025 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 16: Public Scholarship, Gauri Bharat

In episode 16 of the talks, Gauri Bharat dwells on the spectrum of knowledge dissemination, from high academia to public scholarship. Listen on to know her thoughts on how media has brought in changes in the prevalent architectural practices in the country; India's only architectural history & theory course at CEPT (where she instructs) and much more!

Guest: Gauri Bharat

Designation: Senior Associate Professor, CEPT University

Bio: Gauri Bharat specializes in architectural history in South Asia, with particular interests in indigenous built environments and architectural production in the late 19th and 20th centuries. She has developed and leads India’s only specialist postgraduate program in architectural history and research at CEPT University, Ahmedabad, while also engaging with undergraduate and doctoral students. She has authored books on Adivasi [indigenous] architectural built environments and the social life of streets in India and is currently working on a monograph on the history of reinforced concrete construction in South Asia.

⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 15: Multiple Perspectives, Mrinalini Ghadiok

In episode 15 of the talks, Mrinalini Ghadiok shares with us, points from her journey in the world of curation. Listen on to know her thoughts on how magazines run in the country, the importance of thinking from multiple angles and much more!

Guest: Mrinalini Ghadiok

Designation: Architect, writer, curator

Bio: Mrinalini Ghadiok is an architect by training, visualizer by heart and writer by passion. Intrigued by the purpose of process and intention of action, she has spent nearly two decades blurring the boundaries between practice and discipline—as an architect, educator, writer, magazine editor, and curator. Her personal research persists as a Design Culturist to question authorship and identity, the mechanisms that make architecture, design and culture relevant today, and those which serve to carve future histories.

Combining her architecture and editorial experiences, Mrinalini has curated and developed writings for eminent architects, designers, and artists. She is currently working on a series of monographs, as well as editing studio publications for internationally acclaimed practices situated in India. Her curatorial practice includes conferences, symposia, and masterclasses, often in collaboration with various design-led organisations to facilitate community engagements and interdisciplinary exchange. In this regard, her self-initiated interview series, Unplugged Talks, garnered much appreciation as a unique and reputed open-source archive of conversations with creatives from across the world. To further bridge the gap between designers and the industry, Mrinalini works with design-led brands to formulate interactive educational and outreach programs.

Having previously taught architectural design studio at university, and conducted independent workshops and lectures, her expertise continues to be sought across national and global forums for presentations and talks, serving as juror for awards and competitions, as well as collaborating with media and curatorial agencies. Acknowledged for her contribution to the field of architecture in India, Mrinalini was recently listed as one of 80 women architects ‘Shaping the Built’ at the first ever Indian Art, Architecture and Design Biennale (New Delhi, 2023).

⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 14: Negotiating Flux, Nisha Nair Gupta

Nisha Nair Gupta discusses about her innovative publishing initiative, People Places Project in the episode 14 of the season. Listen on to know her take on running bootstrapped initiatives, how to manage projects, managing opportunities and grants for independent projects and much more!

Guest: Nisha Nair Gupta

Designation: Urban researcher and publisher, Founder - People Places Project

Bio: Nisha Nair-Gupta is an architect, urban researcher and writer, and is currently a PhD research scholar at IIT Bombay. She spearheads the publishing initiative, People Place Project, which has been invested in urban research, pedagogy and publication since its inception. As part of a publication initiative looking at creating literature, books, writing and media on urban consciousness, her responsibilities are editorial, creative and growth strategies. She has published five books as a curator and editor. Her current research works look at social spaces and urban mobilities, within the context of Southern urbanism.

LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 13: Get Trained, Mridula Sharma

In episode 13, Mridula Sharma gets candid about the state of flux of the media industry in architecture and design in India. Listen on to know her views on the changing media landscapes, the importance of getting trained in journalism, and much more!

Guest: Mridula Sharma

Designation: Design Futurist, Founder: StyleCaviar by Mridula Sharma

Bio: Mridula Sharma is one of the distinguished design writers of India. She has been writing, compiling, and curating design content for over 27 years. Having started her journey with the iconic Indian design magazine, INSIDE OUTSIDE, Mridula has been the Founding Editor of UK’s best-selling homes magazine LIVINGETC in India. She has also worked on launching Better Homes & Gardens (US) in India and DESIGN TODAY, a design magazine from the INDIA TODAY stable. As one of India’s leading and long-standing design journalists, she has tracked the industry and developed a keen understanding of how design continues to mirror the aspirations of our fast-changing economy.

Mridula’s unwavering allegiance to design and its impact on our daily lives has led her to establish StyleCaviar by Mridula Sharma as a premier platform for fostering connections and nurturing growth synergies within the design community.

She has four books to her credit and a design handbook for middle school children: done in collaboration with a design educationist. Mridula travels around the world exploring design nuggets and their cultural anthropology. She works and lives between Goa and New Delhi.

Website | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter

Note: This episode was recorded while Mridula Sharma was working for Livingetc India.

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 12: Architecture Films, Dhwaj Shah

Dhwaj Shah renders depth to the ongoing conversation by bringing his knowledge of architectural filmmaking to the house. Listen on as we discuss making films out of buildings, and making and sustaining a business out of this sacred act.

Guest: Dhwaj Shah

Designation: Co-Founder, Buildofy

Bio: Dhwaj Shah is the co-founder of Buildofy, an independent media firm that broadcasts architecture films and eBooks of amazing houses in India.

⁠LinkedIn⁠

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 11: The Metaverse, Abhishek "ABVERSE" Bhaskar

ABVERSE Abhishek is the guest for episode eleven of the series - one on a different note and flavor as we dive deep into the virtual world! This episode discusses architecture in the virtual world, the 'loss of soul', and chilling at Mars!! Well, almost!

Guest: Abhishek "ABVERSE" Bhaskar

Designation: Beatboxer, MC, Architect, Public Speaker, Entrepreneur.

Bio: Abhishek Bhaskar is one of India's leading Beatboxer and MCs, Public Speaker & an Entrepreneur. He is often referred to as a high-functioning generalist. He is the 1st Asian Beatboxer to work on a project for the United Nations. He has also conducted 2 of India's biggest Beatboxing workshops alongside Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle & Bollywood star - Ranveer Singh. He has been the ex-brand ambassador for Adidas Originals & JBL and performed for Artists like Sean Paul, AKCENT & other International Artists. He was also the ex-founder of DERT Lab, an award-winning design & research firm. He is building his new company in Stealth Mode, to be revealed soon.

LinkedIn | ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | Twitter | Facebook

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 10: Reinvent Yourself, suryan saurabh

suryan saurabh deep-dives into photography in episode ten of this season. Listen to the episode to hear his thoughts on how he managed to make a business out of photography in the design world, and his word of advice for the folks: to be innovative, to grab the opportunities, and to make the best out of oneself!

Guest: suryan saurabh

Designation: Artist & Photographer

Bio: "Man who lived at the airport ".

suryan practices as an artist and co-founded "studio suryan//Dang" based in Delhi, India. He trained as an architect. Passionate about design, he explores the tools of photography, films, creative direction, books, and exhibitions. He has worked with studios like Studio Mumbai and Sameep Padora during his early years and uses the learnings to shape better communication in design. Intrigued by the Indian landscape and self-made design, he always explores new mediums to better express himself and the world around him. In a constant hunt for new design languages, people, and practices to meet, he spends most of his time.

⁠Website⁠ | ⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 09: An Open Mind, Suneet Paul

Suneet Paul shares his views on media in design in this energetic conversation. Listen to the episode to hear his thoughts on how the culture of magazines have changed over time, and his earnest request to the youth to have an open mind that accepts feedback and embraces change!

Guest: Suneet Paul

Designation: Author & Architect

Bio: Author/architect Suneet Paul has been in the profession of architecture, academics and writing for over forty years, and was for twenty-five years the editor-in-chief of the national Indian magazine - Architecture + Design. Also, a former faculty of the School of Planning & Architecture, Delhi, he has participated in seminars and conferences and has written numerous articles on architecture and design.

Having authored three books in architecture and short fiction, painting is a hobby for him and he has won awards for his dedicated contribution to writing and journalism.

LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 26: Ground Up, Nipun Prabhakar

In episode 26, Nipun Prabhakar shares how his path as a photojournalist, writer, and community architect has been shaped by a deep curiosity and a commitment to authentic storytelling. He discusses the interconnectedness of architecture and media, emphasizing that meaningful work comes from focusing on process, ethics, and real engagement rather than instant gratification. Drawing on his experiences working with grassroots communities and documenting real-life stories, Nipun highlights the importance of listening, learning on the ground, and building genuine relationships. He encourages young professionals to diversify their skills, seek out mentors, and immerse themselves in different fields to discover their passions. For Nipun, credibility and impact are built over time through thoughtful, experience-driven work that prioritizes substance over superficiality.

Guest: Nipun Prabhakar

Designation: Independent photographer, journalist, and architect, Founder - Dhammada Collective

Bio: Nipun Prabhakar is an independent photographer, journalist, and architect based in Delhi and Bhopal. He works closely with South Asian indigenous communities, documenting stories where ideas, folklore, and the built environment meet.

His photographs probe the poetics and politics of everyday life. Training in architecture shapes how he reads space and climate, which in turn guides how he photographs and designs. This dual practice lets him both observe and participate, moving between fieldwork, images, and drawings with ease.

His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Rest of World, Wallpaper Magazine, People’s Archive of Rural India, The Hindu, The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, and Google Arts & Culture. He has collaborated on research and documentation with MIT, Cornell University, IDS (UK), and the University of Michigan.

Nipun received the Berkeley Essay Prize in 2014 and was the Cornell South Asia Fellow in 2019–20 for documentary work in Nepal. In 2023, he was invited to the Royal Institute of British Architects in London to present his work and join a roundtable at their first Architecture Photography Festival.

He is the founder of Dhammada Collective, an architecture and design practice focused on community architecture, participatory design, natural building, and circular construction.

LinkedIn | Instagram | Muck Rack | Dhammada Collective - Website | Instagram

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Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2025 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 08: The Comicverse, Anuj Kale

Anuj Kale gets candid while discussing his journey in architecture and comic making. Listen to the episode to hear his thoughts on simplifying stories for the common folks, running a business, and a lot more!

Guest: Anuj Kale

Designation: Founder, Leewardists

Bio: Anuj is an architect and an urban designer who prefers to write and draw about the profession rather than talk about it. Anuj has been writing and illustrating comics for the past nine years and has conducted over 150+ workshops in colleges across India in collaboration with his partner, Shreya. He has been part of making comics at Leewardists which caters to 3 lakh + viewers across the globe.

⁠Website⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠X/Twitter⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 07: Strategic Communications, Tanya Khanna

Tanya Khanna talks about strategic communications in the built environment in this episode of the talks. Listen on to know her views on how content has evolved in the AEC sector and to know her views on a lot of the contemporary issues of the media sector in the architecture industry.

Guest: Tanya Khanna

Designation: Founder, Epistle Communications

Bio: Indian Architect and Curator, Tanya Khanna has committed herself to Democratising Architecture –– giving a global voice to design and to all those who practice, influence, or experience it. She is the founder of Epistle, the first and largest communications consultancy for architects and designers in South Asia. Through her work with more than 150 leading architects, design practitioners, real estate developers, artists and design brands, Tanya has been passionately advocating good design for over 16 years. Trained as an architect in India and London, Khanna brings with her an intrinsic understanding of what businesses in the design and AEC domains need to Be Known.

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | X/Twitter | Facebook

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 06: The Mainstream, Shiny Verghese

Shiny Varghese talks about the status of the representation of built environment in the mainstream media in India today. Listen on to get important points on the entrypoints for the mainstream media in the country, and how she advices prospective candidates to approach the entrypoints.

Guest: Shiny Verghese

Designation: Senior Editor, The Indian Express

Bio: Shiny Varghese is Senior Editor at The Indian Express, New Delhi. In her 12 years, she has been following design and architecture in the country, lending her voice to urban issues and tracking new approaches to design.

Her stories have evaluated the relevance of design and promoted the need for thinking about it as a way of life. From interviews with architects to stories on new materials and experiments in practice, she has attempted to present the connect architecture has with people and society.

In her 18 years as a design journalist, she has developed a keen sense of design, asking the simple yet important question: ‘Is it necessary?’ She has helped edit books and journals on design and architecture for practices and organisations and has been on the jury of national design competitions.

In the past, she has worked with the India Today Lifestyle group, the Deccan Chronicle and Down To Earth.

Trained at the Asian College of Journalism, Bangalore, she completed her Masters in English at Stella Maris in Chennai, and her schooling from St Mary’s Convent, Mumbai, and Our Own English High School, Dubai. She lives and works in Delhi.

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 05: Writing Architecture, Apurva Bose Dutta

Apurva Bose Dutta lays out architectural writing in the current context for my audience. Listen to the episode to know why she expresses the need for fluidity in 'design media' while reminding the fraternity to be mindful of what content it produces and call it 'architecture journalism'.

Guest: Apurva Bose Dutta

Designation: Author, Architectural Journalist, Curator, Editor, Educator

Bio: Ar. Apurva Bose Dutta is an Indian author, award-winning architectural journalist, curator, editor, and educator based in Bengaluru. An alumna of the Chandigarh College of Architecture (2005), Apurva's professional journey of 18+ years has seen global collaborations with architecture-design multimedia publication houses, firms, organizations, and institutions.

Recognized for her pioneering initiatives in architectural design writing in India, Apurva works at the intersection of architectural design writing, curation, critique, discourse, communications and thinking. She is passionate about writing, curating architecture-design content and discourses, professional speaking, offering training initiatives in architectural writing, and consulting for academic and professional platforms. 

Apurva has been invited by the Australian and Finland Governments to represent the Indian delegation at the International Media Visits of Architectural Writers in Melbourne (2016) and Helsinki (2018). Author of Architectural Inheritance and Evolution of India (2023) and Architectural Voices of India (2017), Apurva is widely published and holds advisory positions with several renowned global architectural and design platforms.

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 04: Simple Narratives, Mahafuj Ali

Mahafuj Ali gets candid about the power of simplicity and small actions. He isn't someone who minces with his words. Or, his cartoons! Listen to learn about how he focuses on simplicity when making his pieces and how simple narratives can do wonders!

Guest: Mahafuj Ali

Designation: Landscape architect & Cartoonist

Bio: Mahafuj Ali, better known as MAli is a self-taught cartoonist, illustrator, and landscape architect by profession. Presently based in Newcastle, Australia for the past few years and working as a landscape architect. He was born and raised primarily in Krishnanagar, India. He studied Architecture at BESU Shibpur and Landscape Architecture at CEPT Ahmedabad. He has been awarded various cartoon and architectural awards both on Indian & International platforms.

He has been awarded one of the top four cartoonists of India by the Times of India in 2017.

Over the past few years - MAli, as he is lovingly called by his friends & followers, has evolved into a creator of innumerable viral trends on virtual platforms, currently popular in India and reaching about 2 million people every month. He is a regular contributor to the cartoon section of AARO ANANDA, a digital version of Anandabazar Patrika.

⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠X/Twitter⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

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Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 03: Keep Writing!, Rahul Saini

Rahul spills the beans on how to approach life as a writer as a designer/architect and shares some sweet and hard truths. He also sheds light on how the various mediums are evolving in today's context, along with other relevant pointers on how the entire media industry in the ACED sector is functioning in the present times.

Guest: Rahul Saini

Designation: Architect & Novelist

Bio: Rahul Saini is an architect from one of the finest architecture colleges in India and also holds a master’s degree in English Literature. His book Those Small Little Things was translated in Hindi and won the award for best translation by The Federation of Indian Publishers in 2011. Paperback Dreams won the A3 Foundation Award for Best Satire in 2019. He has authored seven books and his latest, The Part I Left With You is winning readers’ hearts across the country. Apart from writing, he teaches creative writing and mentors students for Scholastic Writers Academy. He also runs a YouTube channel called Writing Rahul where he talks about book, movies, music and more.

Website⁠ | ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠X/Twitter⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 02: Criticality 404, Rajesh Advani

Rajesh's experience brings candor to this conversation. He reminds the media fraternity to step out of the standard architect-led narrative that has flooded the market. Listen on to learn his perspective on the absence of critical media in the built environment as well as the necessity to embrace alternate and innovative forms of content. This would be a great listen for my colleagues in the media domain now, some great pointers await.

Guest: Rajesh Advani

Designation: Architect, Founding Editor: ArchitectureLive! and Unbuilt Ideas.

Bio: Rajesh Advani is an architect and the founding editor of ArchitectureLive! and Unbuilt Ideas – two online platforms dedicated to making architecture and design accessible to all, while providing equal opportunities for professionals to share their stories.

Since launching these portals, Rajesh has been actively engaged in addressing diverse issues surrounding the architecture profession, practice, and education worldwide. His work has significantly influenced the industry and inspired numerous young professionals.

Rajesh's initiative to showcase Unbuilt Architecture in India has had a profound impact, encouraging professionals, academics, and students to discuss the value of unrealized ideas within the field. This platform has fostered insightful conversations and appreciation for conceptual architectural works that might otherwise have remained unexplored.

Moreover, Rajesh's efforts to promote gender parity in the architecture profession in India have initiated a new discourse around this long-ignored issue. His advocacy has raised awareness and sparked meaningful dialogue, challenging traditional norms and paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable professional landscape.

Through his online platforms, initiatives, and advocacy work, Rajesh Advani has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to promoting inclusivity, knowledge-sharing, and the advancement of architectural discourse on a global scale.

ArchitectureLive!⁠ & Unbuilt Ideas | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠X/Twitter⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media StudiesEp. 01: Media as a Mirror, Rohan Shivkumar

Rohan Shivkumar gets candidly surgical while discussing the status of media and communications in the architecture industry in the country in the first episode of this season. Listen on to know his viewpoint on how he believes that media should be acting as a mirror for self-introspection and self-check, and his cautions on what's happening otherwise in India.

Guest: Rohan Shivkumar

Designation: Filmmaker & Educator

Bio: Rohan Shivkumar, an architect, urban designer, and filmmaker based in Mumbai, serves as the Dean of Architecture at the Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute. He is a principal at the 'Collaborative Design Studio' and part of CRIT, an urban research collective. His diverse portfolio spans architecture, urban research, film, and visual art, focusing on housing, public space, and city representation. Notable projects include the Churchgate Revival and Tourist District projects. At KRVIA, he leads the Research and Design Cell, working on initiatives like Dharavi development and infrastructure access. Co-editor of 'Project Cinema City', he curates film programs and writes on cinema, architecture, and urbanism. His films like 'Nostalgia for the Future' and 'Lovely Villa' have garnered attention globally, featuring in events such as the Chicago Architecture Biennale, the Sharjah Architecture Triennale, the Seoul Architecture Biennale, the World Social Forum, and the Dhaka Art Fair and Documenta, showcasing his interdisciplinary approach to art and urbanism.

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | X/Twitter | Facebook

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter:https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better ArchitectureProject.

Introducing Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Prologue - Media Studies in ACED

This season brings to you twenty-four guests from the umbrella of media in architecture, construction, engineering, and design. This prologue sets the context for the season. Why Design Media? You get your answer here. The prologue also sets a relevant tonality—listen to the episodes with an open and accepting mind and heart! Episodes drop weekly, on Fridays!

Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2024 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Oh it’s great to be back! I do apologize that it took me a year and a half to publish the season finale for Diversify Please! But, I’m not sorry about it – I was saving my own ass before I could ask others to save theirs! The last season takes one final attempt at explaining why diversifying out of architecture is perfectly okay, and is possibly, necessary a step for the overall ecosystem to continue rolling smoothly. This one is calm, and for one last time in this season, asks all those who want to – to move out of core architecture practice. Remember SRK’s dialogue? “Koi bhi dhanda chota nahi hota hai, aur dhande se bada koi dharam nahi hota hai”… Season Two dropping soon! Have something you want to tell us? Use this link: https://anchor.fm/betterarchtalks/message Hosted by: Ar. Shubhayan M

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 25: Instruments of Advocacy, Rahul Mehrotra

In episode 25, Rahul Mehrotra offers a sharp critique of the current state of architectural media in India, arguing that it is plagued by self-indulgence, the tyranny of images, and a lack of criticality, often serving as an echo chamber for architects rather than engaging society at large. He insists that media should function as an “instrument of advocacy,” enabling architects to fulfill their societal mandate by fostering critical discourse, curatorial practice, and feedback loops that bridge the gap between professional insularity and public engagement. Drawing from his own experience, Mehrotra distinguishes between scholarship and advocacy, emphasizing the need for generosity, reflection, and the willingness to let ideas permeate culture. He calls for a pedagogical shift toward writing, reflection, and the study of broader contexts - social, political, and economic; arguing that critical thinking is not merely about criticism but about synthesizing multiple perspectives to generate robust, contextually responsive solutions. Ultimately, Mehrotra envisions media as both an archive and a catalyst, urging practitioners to situate themselves critically in the world, embrace evolving frameworks, and leverage media’s potential to mobilize collective action and shape more equitable futures.

Guest: Rahul Mehrotra

Designation: Founder Principal, RMA Architects. Professor of Urban Design and Planning, Department of Urban Planning and Design, Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

Bio: Rahul Mehrotra (b.1959) is an architect, urbanist and educator who is the Founder Principal of RMA Architects and is Professor of Urban Design and Planning at the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. Mehrotra has designed projects that range from recycling urban land and master planning in Mumbai to the design of art spaces, boutiques, weekend houses, factories, social institutes, and office buildings across India – thereby engaging diverse issues, multiple constituencies and varying scales: from interior design and architecture to urban design, conservation and planning.

He studied at the School of Architecture, Ahmedabad graduated with a Master’s Degree in Urban Design with distinction from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard (1987). Apart from his engagement with the design of buildings, Mehrotra has been actively involved in civic and urban affairs in Mumbai, having served on commissions for historic preservation and environmental issues, with various neighborhood groups. He was the Executive Director (1994–2004) of the Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI), where he is now a Trustee and has taught at the University of Michigan (2003–2007) and at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at MIT (2007–2010). Mehrotra has written and lectured extensively on issues to do with architecture, conservation and urban planning in Mumbai and India.

Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | RMA Architects | Architecture Foundation

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Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2025 @ The Better Architecture Project.

The very first season of the talks titled “Diversify Please” discusses in details, the necessity of architects to diversify when it comes to professional choices! In the fourth episode of this season titled “Pritzker Trap”, the host discusses about the various internal factors that a young architect will be facing in his journey from a student of architecture to a full time professional in the industry. While it is pretty understood that such internal biases are a result of all the things they see outside, this episode discusses both. It covers issues like starchitecture, the celebrity culture obsession, the Bilbao effect and the Pritzker Price as well! Wile all the factors have been discussed, this episode tries to delve into the psychological aspects - how the young mind thinks, and why those thoughts have to be kept under check to ensure that there isn’t any confusion when one is deciding the future course of action for himself/herself.  An ideal listen for architecture students as well as young professionals, this episode elaborates on the kind of thoughts and influences they need to stop getting into their heads and avoid the subsequent blind-headedness in their journey of diversifying out of architecture!Have something you want to tell us? Use this link: https://anchor.fm/betterarchtalks/messageHosted by: Ar. Shubhayan MUrl: bit.ly/Betterarchtalks

The very first season of the talks titled “Diversify Please” discusses in details, the necessity of architects to diversify when it comes to professional choices! In the third episode of this season titled “Kid Conundrum”, the host discusses about the various external factors that are primarily floating around in the industry that act as negative biases for the young professionals in their journey ahead, be it in their journey as an architect, or in their journey of diversifying out of core practice. This episode deals with issues like using experience as an excuse for underpayment, and how the ‘passion pill’ is a common tool of exploitation and subjugation in our industry. An ideal listen for architecture students as well as young professionals, this episode elaborates on the kind of advices and words they need to ignore listening to and avoid in their journey of diversifying out of architecture!Hosted by: Ar. Shubhayan MUrl: betterarchtalks.sthapatya.co

The very first season of the talks titled “Diversify Please” discusses in details, the necessity of architects to diversify when it comes to professional choices! In the second episode of this season titled “Boomerang”, the host discusses why and how should one plan for if one wants to diversify! He also discusses about coming back to architecture after having diversified, and how an architect will always come back to design, no matter what he’s doing for a living. An ideal listen for architecture students as well as young professionals, this episode amps the tone right up by helping candidates to plan their exit!Hosted by: Ar. Shubhayan MUrl: betterarchtalks.sthapatya.co

The very first season of the talks titled “Diversify Please” discusses in details, the necessity of architects to diversify when it comes to professional choices! In the first episode of this season titled “Fuck It”, the host discusses why young architects are actively moving out of the loop, and why a larger number of people needs to diversify to alternate professions! An ideal listen for architecture students as well as young professionals, this episode opens the ground up for further discussions related to diversification of the profession!Hosted by: Ar. Shubhayan MUrl: tbap.sthapatya.co

The very first episode talks about the why, the how, and the upcoming! Think of it as a pilot to this journey! Listen on to understand what The Better Architecture Podcast aims to be, and how you too should be an essential part of the discussion. Visit us at tbap.sthapatya.co, and start discussing!

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 24: Narratives in Transition, Srivathsan A

In episode 24, Srivathsan A offers a sweeping, first-hand account of the transformation of architectural media in India, beginning with the era of a few authoritative print journals and magazines, where rigorous editorial gatekeeping ensured credibility and depth. He charts the shift brought by liberalization, the proliferation of new media platforms, and the subsequent explosion of voices, highlighting both the opportunities for broader engagement and the challenges of maintaining reliability in a landscape where self-publishing and social media dominate. Srivathsan delves into the nuanced divide between commercial, descriptive content and critical, reflective writing, arguing that both have a place and serve different needs. He stresses the growing responsibility of both content creators and audiences to exercise discernment, self-regulation, and support for quality work, while cautioning against the rush to form new collectives. Instead, he advocates for nimble, ongoing dialogue and a commitment to communication excellence within the profession.

Guest: A. Srivathsan

Designation: Head, Centre for Research on Architecture & Urbanism, CEPT University

Bio: A. Srivathsan has about three decades of experience as a practitioner, researcher, and writer in architecture, urban design, and urban development. He is currently a Professor and Head of the Centre for Research on Architecture and Urbanism at CEPT University. Previously, he served as the Academic Director of the University and before that worked in The Hindu, a national newspaper. His current projects include reviewing development regulations, conducting land value and density studies, and providing land pooling advisory services. Srivathsan has published many research papers and contributed to professional magazines and newspapers.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

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Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2025 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 23: Journalism: Hopes & Practice, Kaiwan Mehta

In episode 23, Kaiwan Mehta offers a nuanced exploration of the state of architectural journalism and media in India. He traces the historical gaps in critical, thoughtful writing within the field, highlighting the sporadic nature of quality publications and the unique role Domus India played in fostering a culture of intellectual discourse. Mehta delves into the ethical responsibilities of editors, the delicate balance between commercial viability and maintaining high editorial standards, and the importance of resisting the dilution of content in the age of social media. He further emphasizes the value of formal education, ongoing learning, and collaboration for those aspiring to contribute meaningfully to architecture media, advocating for a commitment to quality, integrity, and the creation of work that stands the test of time.

Guest: Kaiwan Mehta

Designation: Architect, Academic, and Researcher, Managing Editor - DOMUS India (Spenta Multimedia) and Dean, Balwant Sheth School of Architecture, SVKM's NMIMS (deemed to be) University

Bio: Kaiwan Mehta is a theorist and critic in the fields of visual culture, architecture, and city studies. Mehta has studied Architecture, Literature, Indian Aesthetics and Cultural Studies. In 2017 he completed his doctoral studies at the Centre for the Study of Culture and Society, Bengaluru, under the aegis of Manipal University. In April 2022 he was appointed as the Dean at Balwant Sheth School of Architecture, at SVKM's NMIMS University. He was recently elected to the coveted International Committee of Architectural Critics (CICA).

From March 2012 to December 2022 he was the Managing Editor of Domus India (Spenta Multimedia). He has curated various exhibitions and delivered lectures across institutions in India and abroad including Centre Pompidou, Paris, Cornell University, Parsons New School, New York, as well as conferences in Portugal, Hungary, China, and Italy.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠X/Twitter | Website⁠⁠

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Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2025 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 22: Research in Practice, Ruturaj Parikh

In episode 22, Ruturaj discusses the fragmented nature of design and architectural media in India, distinguishing between popular/lifestyle media, professional (business-to-business) media, and academic publications. He highlights the confusion between critical and commercial content, the decline of professional publications post-pandemic, and the need for more platforms that foster critical discourse within the architectural community. He emphasizes the distinction between pure and applied research in architecture, noting that most practitioners engage in applied, practice-based research due to resource constraints. Ruturaj advocates for a culture where architectural practices actively reflect, articulate, and disseminate their ideas, not just through writing, but also through other mediums, arguing that content and critical thinking are more important than the medium itself.

Guest: Ruturaj Parikh

Designation: Founder & Director - Matter, Ex-director - Charles Correa Foundation

Bio: Ruturaj Parikh is the founder and director at Matter, an interdisciplinary Architecture, Design and Curatorial practice. Ruturaj served as director of the Charles Correa Foundation from 2014 - 2016. In 2014, he established MATTER – a firm with design and editorial verticals in partnership with Maanasi Hattangadi. His Goa-based practice works on architecture and urban design projects, research initiatives, and curatorial projects. Matter’s work lies in the interface between architecture and content, consistently experimenting with new ways of engaging with the built environment.

The firm was awarded the Lexus Design Award for architecture in 2020 and the JK Cement Architect of the Year Award (regional category) in 2024 and the IIA National Award for the project of Produce Market at Narindrapur, Bihar in 2025. Since 2021, Ruturaj Parikh and Maanasi Hattangadi serve as programme curators for Arthshila Ahmedabad and Arthshila Goa, multi-arts spaces led by the Arthshila Trust. Ruturaj is curator and editor of thinkmatter – a digital media platform for contemporary Indian architecture, and [IN]SIDE, a bi-annual professional design journal. Ruturaj has taught as a visiting lecturer at KRVIA (Mumbai), CEPT (Ahmedabad) and Goa College of Architecture.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Facebook⁠ | ⁠Website⁠ | Matter

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Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2025 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 21: Collective Actions, Gita Balakrishnan

In episode 21 of the talks, Gita Balakrishnan discusses her journey with Ethos and related initiatives, focusing on filling gaps in architectural education, community engagement, and visibility for architects, especially through innovative events, walking projects, and efforts to connect architects with broader communities. She advocates for collective action, resilience, and the importance of building supportive networks within the profession, encouraging young architects to carve out alternative career paths, embrace social responsibility, and foster collaboration to drive positive change in the field. Listen on as Gita advocates the need for discerning, meaningful content that bridges the gap between professional practice and public understanding in this episode!

Guest: Gita Balakrishnan

Designation: Founder - Ethos, Founding Trustee - Ethos Foundation

Bio: Ar. Gita Balakrishnan, the founder of Ethos and the founding trustee of Ethos Foundation, is committed to making design socially responsive and inclusive. A graduate of SPA New Delhi and trustee of AVAS, she has actively promoted Universal Design and Accessibility through her initiative, Walk for Arcause. Across six editions, including recent 100 km walks in Gujarat, Uttarakhand, and Kerala, she has walked over 2500 km across 13+ states, engaging communities and raising awareness. Her first journey is chronicled in 1700 in 70, published by Rupa Publishers. Gita has been a speaker at over 200 events, including TEDx, and is known for her advocacy of thoughtful, empathetic, and sustainable design. Her contributions have earned her multiple accolades, including the Woman of the Year Award 2023 by D-arc Build. Through her work, Gita continues to bridge the gap between design and social responsibility, inspiring a generation of architects and changemakers.

⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Instagram | Facebook | Website

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Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2025 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 20: Be Well Informed, Amit Gupta

In episode 20 of the talks, Amit Gupta explores the critical role of media in architecture and design, emphasizing the need for deeper, more meaningful content over superficial, glamorous coverage. Listen on to know Amit's views on the importance of education, critical thinking, and long-form content as he constantly encourages future professionals to read widely, question practices, and value substance over instant gratification.

Guest: Amit Gupta

Designation: Founder & Editor-in-Chief, STIR

Bio: Amit Gupta is the founder and editor-in-chief of STIR – an award-winning global media house and curatorial agency that is committed to promoting, propagating, and fostering creativity and innovation in the fields of design, architecture, and art. A creative thinker, curator, and entrepreneur, Amit has worked for over three decades with a motivation to facilitate intersections across diverse creative disciplines and distant geographies while launching pioneering initiatives that propel the creative discourse, practice, and allied industries.

Starting with a career in advertising, Amit soon moved on to set up India's first architecture and design gallery in the late 1990s. Progressively, STIR was founded in 2014 and is the only global media house in the field emanating from the region. He is geared to launch the next ventures focused on the foundational principles of STIR, i.e., content, connect, collaboration, and community.

⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ | Website

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Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2025 @ The Better Architecture Project.

Season 2: Architecture X Media Studies

Ep. 19: Building Platforms, Verticaa Dvivedi

In episode 19 of the talks, Verticaa goes candid about her journey of following her calling to build and raise platforms. She places intense focus on market research and understanding target audiences, and highlights the importance of being consistent. Listen on to know about her journey in this space, building platforms that help communities come closer and act in unison as a symbol of mutual elevation.

Guest: Verticaa Dvivedi

Designation: Founder - THE WADE ASIA, Surfaces Reporter

Bio: Founder, THE WADE ASIA Architecture Event and MATECIA Exhibition | TEDx Speaker | Publisher, Surfaces Reporter | Chair, WADE Foundation | Former Co-chair, Women Entrepreneurs Committee, PHD Chamber of Commerce

Verticaa Dvivedi’s THE WADE ASIA champions in promoting Women-led-Development and Women-led-Design in Architecture & Interior Design. She is also the publisher of the popular architecture magazine, Surfaces Reporter.

Verticaa’s commitment to amplifying the voices of women in design is through THE WADE ASIA, the largest platform in the world for women in architecture & interior design, with participation from more than 15-20 states of India. It began in a small hotel room 10 years ago, and today, it spans more than 370,000 sqft, taking place alongside the MATECIA Exhibition and India Furniture Conclave.

Verticaa’s work as an ‘entrepreneur with a purpose’ has earned her accolades like the Economic Times Women Leader Award 2024, the All India Women Entrepreneurs Award, the "Promising Indian" recognition for Social Activism, the Sarojini Naidu Award, and more. She has been a speaker at various forums, including NIFT, Lady Irwin College, JIMS, JK Business, and India Water Week, among others.

Additionally, she spearheads initiatives aimed at raising awareness about water and promoting sustainability. Her efforts culminated in a record-breaking achievement, earning her the prestigious ASIA BOOK OF RECORD Medal for achieving the largest mass attempt in connecting the maximum number of women for water awareness.

⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

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Website: www.betterarch.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betterarch/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterarch_org/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/betterarch_org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterarch.org/

Copyright 2025 @ The Better Architecture Project.