(“Text as submitted by architect”)
Ananya Singhal
Ananya Singhal met Studio Saar co-founder Jonny Buckland in 2003 while studying architecture at the University of Bath, England. Almost two decades later, the duo established Studio Saar, where he serves as managing partner. With over 20 years’ experience in the industry, Ananya has worked on projects in the United Kingdom and India spanning industrial, commercial, landscape, and private residential—an extensive portfolio that has included two IGBC platinum-rated green buildings.
Prior to joining Studio Saar, Ananya created the first list of heritage buildings in Udaipur for the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage and worked at the not-for-profit organisation Sangath with Pritzker Prize-winning architects Dr. BV Doshi and Rajeev Khatpalia. Ananya is also part of the leadership team at multinational electronics manufacturer Secure Metres.
Jonny Buckland
Jonny began his career studying alongside Studio Saar co-founder Ananya Singhal in 2003 at the University of Bath, UK. Almost twenty years later, Studio Saar was established to continue their shared vision of crafting uplifting places and spaces.
Jonny gained his professional qualifications at London Metropolitan University, studying under Professor Maurice Mitchel and Professor Robert Mull, which embedded a strong interest in architecture with social value. He has previously worked for two Stirling Prize-winning practices, FeildenCleggBradley Studios and Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, before setting up practice independently. Jonny is an ARB-RIBA-registered architect in the UK.
Practice Ideology
Studio Saar was established by Ananya Singhal and Jonny Buckland in 2019. The studio’s architecture is underpinned by the ambition to create sustainable solutions for society, achieved through cross-cultural sharing of emerging ideas, methodologies, and technologies.
The practice is split across its two offices in Frome, Somerset, and Udaipur, Rajasthan. Its architecture is rooted in understanding the importance of people, culture, and place. The studio’s approach interprets vernacular traditions through a contemporary lens to deliver innovative, relevant, and beautiful design solutions across a range of typologies.
Key schemes include Secure Sanand Factory and Canteen in Ahmedabad, Gujarat; the redevelopment of Udaan Park in Udaipur; the Third Space edutainment centre in Udaipur; as well as several one-off dwellings in the UK and India.
