Sagar Saoji Interview
Q. If your journey were a film, what would the opening scene look like, and why does it begin there?
It would begin in college, because that’s where the confusion actually started.
Not with failure, not with success, but with a quiet mismatch.
I’m sitting at a desk, working on drawings, doing what is expected of me. Studio culture, deadlines, juries, learning software, producing sheets. On paper, everything looks correct. But internally, I’m more curious than satisfied. I’m thinking less about line weights and more about how buildings behave, why certain spaces feel comfortable, why some materials age well and others don’t.
That’s where the journey begins because it wasn’t ambition that pushed me forward, it was discomfort. I didn’t hate architecture. I just didn’t feel aligned with how narrowly it was being practiced and taught. That moment of internal questioning is the real starting point, because everything I’ve done since is a response to that.
Q. When did architecture stop being just a profession for you and start becoming a story worth telling publicly?
In 2020, when Covid disrupted everything. Work slowed down, offices paused, routines broke. For the first time, there was space to think without the pressure of constant output.
That’s when I realised something clearly: drawings were not my calling. I respected the process, but it didn’t excite me. What excited me was understanding architecture beyond drawings. Materials. Systems. Site realities. Why certain decisions fail users even when they look good on paper.
That realisation wasn’t easy. Pivoting away from the conventional path felt risky and uncomfortable. But it was honest. And once I accepted it, architecture stopped being just a profession and became something I wanted to explain, question, and communicate. I started sharing because I knew I wasn’t the only one feeling this disconnect, even if most people weren’t saying it out loud.
Q. How do you decide which ideas deserve a post, and which ones should stay on the drawing board?
I work with my writer twice a week, and the process is structured and intense. A lot of research, references, comparisons, and discussions. Screen time definitely gets out of hand, and that’s something I’m consciously trying to manage better.
Every idea goes through clear filters.
Will this help someone understand architecture better?
Is this relevant in the Indian context, not just globally impressive?
Is this product actually usable on Indian sites, budgets, and climates?
Is this building worth talking about beyond how it looks on Instagram?
If a topic answers a real question, removes confusion, or adds practical clarity, it gets published. If it’s just visually impressive or trendy without value, it doesn’t. Attention alone is never enough reason for a post.
Q. Architecture is often seen as complex and exclusive. What made you want to translate it for a wider audience?
I saw architects around me working extremely hard but not being respected at the same level as other professions like doctors, lawyers, or CAs. Despite the responsibility architects carry, society often doesn't understand our value.
That bothered me deeply.
I realised that part of the problem was communication. We spoke in jargon. We explained architecture to ourselves, not to the people affected by it. When people don’t understand your work, they don’t respect it.
I wanted to simplify architecture without dumbing it down. To explain it in everyday language. To make people see why it matters. That wasn’t about content creation. It was about restoring dignity and respect to the profession through better storytelling.
Q. When simplifying architecture for thousands of viewers, what is one thing you absolutely refuse to dilute?
Authenticity and intent.
I will simplify language, but never oversimplify reasoning. I won’t present architecture as just visuals or trends. The reasoning behind decisions, the constraints, the trade-offs, those matter.
Once you dilute intent, architecture turns into surface-level design. I’d rather lose reach than misrepresent the discipline.
Q. Do you see yourself more as an architect who creates content, or a storyteller who happens to be an architect?
I see myself as an architect first. That’s non-negotiable. My understanding of space, materials, systems, and the realities of practice comes from architectural training and on-ground exposure. Content did not replace that foundation, it grew out of it.
Storytelling, for me, is not about narratives or aesthetics. It’s a practical tool. It helps explain decisions, build trust, and communicate value in a world where attention spans are short and information is fragmented. Architects who don’t learn to communicate clearly often struggle, not because their work lacks quality, but because its value is not understood.
I don’t create content to become separate from architecture. I use content to stay connected to it, just in a different way. Through storytelling, I’m able to question systems, explain processes, and share realities that are often hidden behind finished drawings and glossy renders. That makes the role of the architect more visible, not diluted.
Q. Is good design today driven more by Instagram, or by intent?
Instagram influences taste, expectations, and exposure. It cannot replace intent.
I see a lot of designs today that are optimised for photos, not for living or working. They look great on screens but fail in real use. That’s a problem.
For me, Instagram is a platform to explain design, not a brief to design for. Intent-driven design may not always trend, but it lasts longer and works better in reality.
Q. How important is digital presence for architects who want to remain relevant in the next decade?
Digital presence is no longer optional for architects who want to stay relevant. The industry is changing faster than traditional practice models can keep up with. Clients today research before they hire. They compare, question, and form opinions long before the first meeting.
If architects are not visible digitally, they are invisible in that decision-making process. And invisibility often leads to reduced fees, reduced authority, and reduced involvement in critical decisions.
My approach to digital presence has never been about showcasing only finished projects. It’s about showing how decisions are made. Why a material was chosen. What constraints shaped a design. What trade-offs were involved. This builds trust far more than polished images ever can.
Digital platforms also allow architects to educate the market. When clients understand process and value, conversations shift from cost to outcomes. Over the next decade, architects who use digital platforms to explain rather than impress will be the ones who remain relevant, respected, and in control of their narrative.
Q. What kind of conversations about architecture do you think India still isn’t ready for, but urgently needs?
India is moving, whether we like it or not, towards architecture becoming a more product-driven industry. More building systems, more prefabrication, more specialised materials, and more branded solutions are entering the market every year. This is not a trend, it’s a structural shift.
The problem is that we are not having honest conversations around it. Many architects still treat products as finishing elements rather than as core design decisions. Specifications are often driven by familiarity, cost pressure, or what’s easily available, not by performance, lifecycle, or site conditions.
India urgently needs conversations around accountability. If a product fails, who is responsible? If a system underperforms, did we understand it properly before specifying it? Architects need to evolve from being form-givers to being informed decision-makers who understand how products behave over time.
This shift is uncomfortable because it demands continuous learning. It demands that architects stay updated, ask uncomfortable questions, and sometimes admit what they don’t know. But without this shift, architecture risks becoming visually expressive but technically weak. That’s a future we cannot afford.
Q. When students watch your content, what do you hope lingers with them after the reel ends?
More than inspiration, I want clarity to linger.
I want students to feel that someone slightly ahead of them understands the pressure they are under. The confusion, the comparison, the fear of choosing the wrong path too early. Architecture school rarely prepares students for the emotional and professional uncertainty that comes after graduation.
I want them to realise that it’s okay to not fit into one rigid definition of what an architect should be. That there are multiple ways to stay connected to architecture without feeling trapped by a single job role.
If a reel can reduce anxiety even a little, make someone ask better questions, or feel less alone in their thinking, then it has done its job. I don’t want students to remember me. I want them to remember that they’re allowed to take time and make informed choices.
Q. If a young architect is reading this late at night, feeling lost, what would you want them to hear?
First, that feeling lost is not a weakness. It’s usually a sign that you’re thinking seriously about your future instead of blindly following a path. Most people feel this at some point, but they just don’t talk about it openly.
Second, don’t sacrifice your entire college life trying to predict what will happen after graduation. College is one of the few phases where you’re allowed to explore, make mistakes, and learn without permanent consequences. Enjoy it. Build friendships. Learn skills slowly but properly.
Your career will unfold in phases. You don’t need all the answers at once. Focus on learning how to think, how to adapt, and how to stay curious. The rest becomes clearer with experience, not panic or constant comparison.
Bio:
Ar. Sagar Saoji is an Indian architect and the founder of f.y.i.arch, a digital platform that makes architecture easier to understand and more engaging. A graduate of Sinhgad College of Architecture (2016), he launched f.y.i.arch in March 2020 to share insights on design, materials, projects, and the evolving realities of architectural practice.
With over 217K+ followers on Instagram, Sagar has built a strong community that values clarity and intent in design. In 2023, he was honoured with the ‘Best Architectural Reviewer’ award by Lokmat for his contribution to architectural conversations in India.
Through f.y.i.arch, he continues to connect architects and audiences, encouraging clearer communication and more thoughtful design thinking.
Interviewed by: Suraj Kaushik
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