Unbuilt Ideas

A place to explore ‘what ifs’ of design

Unbuilt Ideas, envisioned by Rajesh Advani, Founding Editor at ArchitectureLive!, was born out of a deep passion for exploring the vast, untapped potential of design. We believe that architecture is not limited to what has been constructed—it is equally about the visions, experiments, and daring ideas that challenge the limits of imagination. Every unbuilt concept carries within it a powerful narrative, one that has the ability to reshape how we perceive space, form, and function. Our mission is to create a meaningful platform for these ideas, fostering dialogue that goes beyond conventional practice, and inspiring both established professionals and the next generation of designers to think boldly and without restriction.

At Unbuilt Ideas, we invite you to embark on a journey of endless “what ifs.” What if we reimagined urban landscapes to better serve human connection? What if sustainability and aesthetics could seamlessly coexist, creating cities that are both beautiful and resilient? What if architecture became a catalyst for solving the world’s most urgent challenges—climate change, inequality, displacement? These questions form the foundation of our exploration. Through them, we seek to nurture curiosity, ignite creativity, and encourage everyone—from seasoned architects to passionate enthusiasts—to step beyond the boundaries of the built environment and immerse themselves in the limitless realm of possibility.

While our initial focus is rooted in the world of architecture, our vision stretches far beyond it. We recognize that design does not exist in isolation—it is part of a much larger ecosystem of creativity. In the near future, we aspire to expand our platform to embrace other disciplines of design, from product and interior design to urban planning and beyond. By doing so, we aim to foster a culture of cross-pollination of ideas, where architects, designers, and thinkers from diverse backgrounds can come together, share perspectives, and inspire innovations that transcend boundaries.

We see Unbuilt Ideas not just as a collection of concepts, but as a vibrant, evolving community—one that thrives on collaboration, conversation, and the courage to imagine. We warmly invite you to explore our publications, dive into the narratives we share, and join us in shaping this space. If you wish to collaborate, contribute your ideas, or simply share suggestions that could help us grow, please reach out. Together, let us create a dialogue that celebrates imagination, honors creativity, and unlocks the infinite possibilities of design.

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Rupali Gupte

Rupali Gupte is an architect and urbanist based in Mumbai, Professor at the School of Environment and Architecture (SEA) and a partner at BARDStudio. Her work often crosses disciplinary boundaries and takes different forms – writings, drawings, mixed-media works, story telling, teaching, curation, walks and spatial interventions.

Her works include extensive research on contemporary Indian urbanism with a focus on architecture and built environment; tactical practices; housing; and urban form. In 2013, she co-founded the School of Environment and Architecture (sea.edu.in). SEA is envisaged as an experimental academic space for research and education in architecture and urbanism. She has a wide range of publications, has delivered lectures and been on juries across the world. Her works in collaboration with her partner Prasad Shetty, have been shown in several exhibitions including the 56th Venice Biennale, X Sao Paolo Architecture Biennale, Seoul Biennale of Art and Architecture, at Manifesta 7 in Bolzano, at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona and at galleries such as Project 88, Devi Art Foundation and the Mumbai Art Room. She has recently curated an exhibition involving artists and architects titled ‘When is Space? Conversations in Contemporary Architecture’ at the Jawahar Kala Kendra.

Rupali Gupte