Room for Utopias Podcast Explores Architecture Without Style
The Room for Utopias podcast series in partnership with INDX|GLOBAL explores how Indian architects dismantle signature styles to prioritize human instinct.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Room for Utopias podcast explores architecture that rejects signature styles.
- Indian architects discuss designs rooted in human instinct and environmental responsibility.
- Emphasis on preserving shared family spaces amidst modern digital isolation.
- Advocating for climate-responsive materials and fluid spatial progression.
The Room for Utopias podcast series has returned in partnership with INDX|GLOBAL during designboom.paris under the theme A Future Without Formula. Hosted by designboom’s Managing Editor, Iñaki Laguardia, the series examines what happens when design practices step away from recognizable branding to focus on environmental responsibility and flexible thinking.
The fifth episode brings together Ankit Gupta of Ankit Gupta & Ridhima Sogani Architects, Shalini Ganguli of Shalini Ganguli Interiors, and Kshitiz Manu of K Manu & Associates to examine how built spaces balance fast-evolving lifestyles with persistent biological instincts.
"In many rooms you have your own television, you can completely lock yourself out… but what happens is that your life goes unwitnessed. It is our moral responsibility to not ever get rid of areas in the house which enable the family to interact with each other"
Shalini Ganguli
Shalini Ganguli addresses domestic fragmentation caused by private screens, urging designers to safeguard unstructured shared areas so families can coexist naturally. Meanwhile, Ankit Gupta emphasizes the emotional power of spatial sequencing, drawing on historic typologies that transition gradually from public streets to verandas and central courtyards, arguing that contemporary luxury lies in unhurried progression and climate-responsive materials.
The discussion surrounding the rejection of signature styles highlights a broader paradigm shift in contemporary architecture away from trend-driven aesthetics toward deeply contextual and sustainable design. By prioritizing core human values over uniform visual branding, architects can create enduring spaces that genuinely adapt to the evolving needs of inhabitants.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The sixth conversation features Sonali Bhagwati of Designplus Architects, Priyanka Mehra of PS Design, Manish Gulati of MOFA Studio, and Ajay Arya of A Square Designs discussing whether rigid aesthetic styles limit creative evolution.
Sonali Bhagwati differentiates superficial packaging from core practice values, while Priyanka Mehra defends geographic rootedness and individual stories. Ajay Arya notes that major cities are transitioning away from stylistic dogma toward fluid expression that reflects the inhabitant's personality.
Source: designboom
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