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. 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. 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/

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. 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.