In the fourth episode of the podcast Room For Dreams, the topic of the so-called 'experimental rebellion' is raised, which directly touches upon the essence of contemporary design culture, overly focused on images and screen superficiality.
The recording was made live during Milan Design Week 2026 in collaboration with INDX|GLOBAL. Host Claire Brodka speaks with four architects from India: Indrajit Kembhavi, Manish Gulati, Sanjay Singh, and Siddharth Talwar. They discuss a critically important question: have we sacrificed the soul of architecture for a perfect Instagram post?
This dialogue directly contrasts with the current capitalist model of standardization and fast, cheap construction. Instead of chasing flawless, clinical aesthetics often valued on social media, the group advocates for a return to rough textures, chaos, and imperfections inherent in real spaces. They argue that visual appeal is merely an initial element that attracts us before the true architectural drama—acoustics, touch, and smell—takes over.
The dialogue completely abandons rigid professional jargon and offers an indispensable listen for designers striving to create works with genuine emotional impact. The episode concludes with a dive into the subconscious, where listeners are invited to discard client demands and laws of physics to sketch their ideal 'dream rooms.' The resulting concepts, ranging from psychological cocoons to sanctuaries of stopped time, will serve as a source of inspiration for a complete rethinking of future projects.
