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The Better Architecture Project

Ar. Shubhayan M
The Better Architecture Project
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  • Arch X Media_Ground Up
    Season 2: Architecture X Media StudiesEp. 26: Ground Up, Nipun PrabhakarIn 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 PrabhakarDesignation: Independent photographer, journalist, and architect, Founder - Dhammada CollectiveBio: 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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: www.betterarch.orgLinkedIn: 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.
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  • Arch X Media_Instruments of Advocacy
    Season 2: Architecture X Media StudiesEp. 25: Instruments of Advocacy, Rahul MehrotraIn 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 MehrotraDesignation: 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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: www.betterarch.orgLinkedIn: 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.
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  • Arch X Media_Narratives in Transition
    Season 2: Architecture X Media StudiesEp. 24: Narratives in Transition, Srivathsan AIn 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. SrivathsanDesignation: Head, Centre for Research on Architecture & Urbanism, CEPT UniversityBio: 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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: www.betterarch.orgLinkedIn: 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.
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  • Arch X Media_Journalism: Hopes & Practice
    Season 2: Architecture X Media StudiesEp. 23: Journalism: Hopes & Practice, Kaiwan MehtaIn 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 MehtaDesignation: Architect, Academic, and Researcher, Managing Editor - DOMUS India (Spenta Multimedia) and Dean, Balwant Sheth School of Architecture, SVKM's NMIMS (deemed to be) UniversityBio: 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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: www.betterarch.orgLinkedIn: 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.
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  • Arch X Media_Research in Practice
    Season 2: Architecture X Media StudiesEp. 22: Research in Practice, Ruturaj ParikhIn 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 ParikhDesignation: Founder & Director - Matter, Ex-director - Charles Correa FoundationBio: 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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website: www.betterarch.orgLinkedIn: 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.
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About The Better Architecture Project

The Better Architecture Project was born out of the necessity to bring to the world a critical, hard talk platform. Housed in India, BetterArch aims to bring you raw, unadulterated discourses right from the hearts of the ones bearing the brunt of the architect life! Website: www.BetterArch.org
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