Emerging Architecture Practices You Should Know Right Now
In an era shaped by environmental urgency, digital design tools, and evolving cultural narratives, architecture is being redefined by young studios that combine creativity with conscience. These emerging practices are not only delivering striking buildings but also rethinking how architecture can serve society. Here are some of the most exciting names to know right now — and the projects that define their rise.
Studio Saar (Frome, UK & Udaipur, India)
Practice Overview:
Studio Saar, founded in 2019 by Jonny Buckland and Ananya Singhal, operates between the UK and India. Their projects focus on adaptive reuse, sustainable construction, and community-based design. The firm’s binational setup allows it to blend Indian craft with British ecological rigor.
Key Projects:
- Third Space Learning and Cultural Centre, Udaipur
- Secure Sanand Factory, Gujarat
- Mayday Saxonvale Regeneration Masterplan, Frome
Why They Stand Out:
Studio Saar was the first Indian architecture practice to win Dezeen’s Emerging Architect of the Year Award (2024). Their work demonstrates how small practices can operate internationally while maintaining local integrity and environmental focus.
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IGArchitects (Seoul, South Korea)
Practice Overview:
IGArchitects is a young Seoul-based firm recognized for its experimental work and sensitivity to small urban contexts. They explore how compact sites can generate new forms of living and interaction, often through inventive use of volume and light.
Key Projects:
- Frame of the House (Tokyo, Japan)
- Pyramid Hut (Chiba, Japan)
- One-Legged House (Japan)
Recognition:
IGArchitects was named among the 20 Practices Shaping the Future of Architecture in the ArchDaily Next Practices Awards 2025.
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Ellul Architecture (Adelaide, Australia)
Practice Overview:
Founded by Nicholas Ellul, this Australian studio emphasizes crafted, contextual architecture rooted in site and client collaboration. Their portfolio includes refined residential and small commercial projects that prioritize atmosphere, material honesty, and light.
Key Projects:
- Sandringham House
- Rooftop Garden Residence
- Stirling Addition
Recognition:
Winner of the 2025 Houses Awards — Emerging Architecture Practice category, acknowledging their excellence in small-scale, high-quality residential design.
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Trends Among Emerging Practices
1. Local Context, Global Dialogue
Studios like Studio Saar and IGArchitects work across continents, yet their projects remain rooted in specific climates and communities.
2. Craftsmanship as Innovation
The new generation of architects values material honesty over novelty. Handmade brick, rammed earth, and timber are treated as high-tech when used with intelligence.
3. Sustainability as Starting Point
Environmental performance is no longer a “feature” but the foundation of design intent. From India to Australia, younger studios are integrating net-zero and reuse strategies from day one.
4. Beyond Scale and Aesthetics
Emerging practices show that meaningful work happens at any scale — a classroom, a courtyard, or a modest house can serve as a testbed for future-thinking design.
5. Recognition Platforms Are Evolving
Initiatives such as ArchDaily’s Next Practices Awards and Dezeen’s Emerging Architect of the Year bring visibility to diverse, regionally grounded voices.
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Conclusion
Emerging architecture practices represent the future of the profession — agile, experimental, inclusive, and sustainable. From Studio Saar’s cross-continental collaborations to IGArchitects’ inventive urban typologies and Ellul Architecture’s refined residential craft, each illustrates that architectural excellence can come from anywhere.
For architects, students, and clients seeking the next generation of design leadership, these studios are not only “ones to watch” — they’re redefining what architecture means right now.
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