What Studio Saar does

Studio Saar is an Anglo-Indian sustainable architecture practice founded by Ananya Singhal and Jonny Buckland, who met studying architecture at the University of Bath in 2003. The firm operates from two offices: a co-located India presence within the Secure Meters compound in Pratapnagar, Udaipur, Rajasthan, and a UK studio at The Silk Mill in Frome, Somerset. The practice designs buildings, masterplans, and public spaces for corporate, non-profit, private residential, and municipal clients across India and the United Kingdom, with a stated mission to enable life to flourish through reuse, adaptation, and renewal rather than new construction. Co-founder Ananya Singhal also serves on the leadership team at Secure Meters Ltd, creating an institutional anchor relationship that functions in practice as a parent-subsidiary affiliation.

The firm's core offering is project-based professional architecture services, with a portfolio of 20+ named projects spanning residential (Adar Residence in Coonoor, The Old Rectory, Farmhouse), industrial (Secure Stores, Secure Sanand Factory, Doshi Building, Secure Bristol), community (Third Space for Dharohar, Udaan Park, Higher Farm for Roots Food Movement, Saxonvale masterplan), and competition-driven research work (Craft Not Carbon pavilion, Data and Climate Research Centre, Srivan). Technical differentiators include material passports for circular-economy tracking, structures designed for disassembly, modular timber armatures, on-site sewage treatment with groundwater recharge for water neutrality, passive cooling using traditional Indian techniques, and locally sourced materials. The practice also operates Saar Samvaad, a community engagement platform focused on Udaipur, and runs ongoing research collaborations with the University of Bath Masters program covering urban regeneration in Udaipur and Bhopal.

Revenue derives from bespoke project fees on a project-by-project basis with no publicly disclosed pricing tiers. Go-to-market is reputation-led and network-driven, supplemented by exhibitions (Craft Gallery London 2024; London Festival of Architecture 2023), academic collaborations, and digital presence via Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. The firm is a privately-held practice with approximately 12 professional employees (or up to 25 total team members including carpenters and administrative staff) and has not raised external funding; its primary client segment concentrations are corporate/industrial clients (notably Secure Meters), non-profit and community organizations, and a smaller set of private residential clients. Notable recognition includes 2024 RIBA Silver Medal nomination and AJ Student Prize nominations for founders, plus Infravision 'City as a Network' and Davidson Prize competition wins.

Name

Studio Saar

Legal name

Studio Saar

Website

https://studiosaar.design

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Studio Saar is an Anglo-Indian sustainable architecture practice designing craft-based, circular-economy buildings, masterplans, and public spaces for corporate, non-profit, and private clients across India and the UK, operating from Udaipur and Frome.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Udaipur

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Architecture Design Services: Project-based professional services for architectural design, including masterplanning, building design, extensions, and adaptive reuse projects across residential, commercial, and community sectors

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Studio Saar is a sustainable architecture practice providing bespoke architectural design services including masterplanning, building design, extensions, and adaptive reuse projects. The practice serves corporate, non-profit, community, and private residential clients across India and the UK, with deep expertise in low-carbon materials, circular economy principles, passive cooling, and buildings designed for disassembly. Supplementary offerings include the Saar Samvaad community engagement platform and academic research collaborations on regenerative urbanism.

Product overview

Studio Saar is an Anglo-Indian sustainable architecture practice offering architectural design services, research collaborations, and community engagement platforms. The core offering consists of architectural projects spanning residential, commercial, industrial, and public spaces across India and the UK, with a focus on sustainable, craft-based, and community-centric design. Saar Samvaad serves as a community engagement platform for urban renewal in Udaipur, while research partnerships with University of Bath support academic urban planning initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Saar Samvaad: A community engagement platform working with the people of Udaipur to understand, act, and create real change for the city. Focuses on green spaces, urban ease, and community dialogue.

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Bespoke architectural design services including masterplanning, building design, extensions, and adaptive reuse projects for residential, commercial, industrial, and community clients across India and the UK, focused on sustainable, craft-based, and community-centric design.
• Saar Samvaad Community Engagement Platform Community engagement platform working with the people of Udaipur to understand, act, and create real change for the city, focusing on green spaces, urban ease, and heritage revival including historic stepwells.
• Research Collaborations Academic research partnerships with the University of Bath Masters program on regenerative urbanism, including masterplan proposals for Bhopal (2024-25) and Udaipur (2022) developed jointly with student groups.
• Craft, Community, Connection Exhibition Exhibition exploring Studio Saar's architectural work organized around three themes: craft (tangible aspects of architecture and artisan craftsmanship), community (spaces that foster collective ownership and exchange), and connection (routes and cultural practices binding buildings to their context).

Quantifiable outcome

• Water neutral homes with own sewage treatment and groundwater recharge
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of BathcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Saar sponsors and collaborates with University of Bath Masters students on research projects addressing urban regeneration in Indian cities. Projects include masterplan proposals for Bhopal (2024-25) and Udaipur (2022), with students working on regenerative urbanism challenges under studio Saar's guidance.
• DharoharcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDharohar is a not-for-profit charity helping communities discover fundamentals of science. Studio Saar has created multiple projects for Dharohar including Third Space learning centre and Udaan Park, with activities intrinsically connected to 50 hectares of reforested jungle.
• Mayday SaxonvalemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Saar developed a community-led masterplan for Saxonvale town centre in Frome, UK. Mayday Saxonvale is a not-for-profit social enterprise established in March 2021 to deliver sustainable development governed by community needs.
• Roots Food MovementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Saar designed Higher Farm, the first project of Root's Natural Food Movement focused on developing a locally responsive farm and educational facility to transform local food systems and regenerate ecosystems.
• Secure Meters LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding relationship with Secure Meters, part of the Secure Group. Studio Saar has designed multiple facilities including Secure Stores (2011), Secure Sanand Factory, and Secure Bristol. Ananya Singhal serves on Secure Meters leadership team.
• BAS ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting partner on Apartment Store competition project bringing expertise to circular economy hub design.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FeildenCleggBradley Studios: UK-based architecture practice recognized for sustainability-led design and BREEAM excellence. Highly comparable to Studio Saar in scale, ethos, and craft-driven approach; co-founder Jonny Buckland previously worked here before establishing Studio Saar.
• Architecture Brio: Mumbai-headquartered architecture practice working between India and international markets with a strong sustainability and craft-led sensibility. Highly comparable to Studio Saar in scale, India footprint, and design philosophy.
• AllfordHallMonaghanMorris: London-based architecture firm with a strong portfolio in workplace, education, and masterplanning. Closely comparable to Studio Saar's UK practice profile; co-founder Jonny Buckland previously worked at this Stirling Prize-winning practice.
• Heatherwick Studio: London-based design and architecture studio known for material innovation and craft-led public projects. Comparable to Studio Saar in design-led boutique scale, public-facing installations (e.g., Craft Not Carbon pavilion), and emphasis on craft and human experience.
• Snøhetta: International architecture, landscape, and design firm with sustainability and craft as core tenets. Comparable to Studio Saar in the integration of landscape, sustainability, and contextual design across cultural, public, and masterplanning commissions.
• WOHA Architects: Singapore-based practice globally recognized for biophilic, tropical, and sustainability-focused design. Comparable to Studio Saar in deep integration of passive climate strategies, community engagement, and a strong sustainability thesis across residential and public projects.
• Studio Lotus: India-based design and architecture practice with a strong craft, sustainability, and contextual design orientation. Comparable to Studio Saar in Indian geography, scale, and integration of craft with contemporary sustainable design.

Broad incumbents

• Foster + Partners: Global architecture heavyweight with a dedicated sustainability practice and deep UK roots. Represents the larger, established end of the same sustainable-architecture category Studio Saar operates in, but with vastly greater scale and project reach.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Large international architecture firm with a strong sustainability and innovation agenda. Comparable to Studio Saar in sustainability-forward positioning, but operates at a vastly larger scale across global commercial, cultural, and masterplanning projects.

Emerging players

• Studio Weave: Small London-based architecture practice with a focus on sustainability, community engagement, and contextual design. Comparable to Studio Saar in boutique scale and social/community-led project ethos, particularly around UK urban regeneration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@StudioSaarOfficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/studio-saar-design
• Instagraminstagram.com/studiosaar.design

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Studio Saar