A design magazine can feel like a trusted companion in the studio, pages spread open beside a steaming cup of coffee. Between its covers, ideas are shaped by craft, dialogue, photographs of projects, and essays that speak with clarity about building and context. As India’s cities expanded and homes transformed, these publications moved in step, tracing the arrival of new materials, the evolution of building types, and the shifts in design thinking.
The following seven titles have helped set the tone for how Indian architecture is read, debated, and imagined. Each holds a distinctive voice and continues to influence the way practitioners, students, and design lovers engage with the built environment.
Domus India
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Domus India arrived in Mumbai in 2011 as the local edition of the renowned Italian journal. From its first issue, it framed Indian practice in conversation with work from across the world. Essays, case studies, and studio profiles present a view that is rooted in local culture yet open to global discourse. Readers often find a regional project examined not only for its visual appeal but for the methods, materials, and thinking that brought it to life.
Architectural Digest India
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Launched in 2012, the Indian edition of Architectural Digest has brought the interiors of exceptional homes into the national conversation. Known for its refined photography and narrative approach, it shows how lighting, proportion, and furnishings can work together to create spaces that are both functional and beautiful. A memorable feature once explored a Delhi home where clever daylight reflection transformed a modest courtyard into a glowing focal point.
Elle Decor India
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Since its first issue in 2000, Elle Decor India has blended interiors, product design, and contemporary style with a quick, lively pace. The magazine offers a balance of inspiration and practical insight, from profiles of craftspeople to seasonal trend reports. A recent spotlight on compact city apartments revealed inventive furniture arrangements and layered colour palettes that made the spaces feel generous without excess.
Marg Magazine
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Established in 1946, Marg magazine remains one of India’s most respected voices on art and architecture. Born in the early years of independence, it documented modern town planning proposals and debated the role of architecture in shaping a young nation. Today, its quarterly issues carry essays, archival photography, and scholarly reflections that appeal to anyone who values depth and historical perspective in design.
Architecture+Design
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Architecture Plus Design, launched in 1984, has consistently delivered detailed project documentation for the professional community. Each issue presents plans, elevations, sections, and technical notes alongside narratives on finishes, construction systems, and environmental strategies. One recent issue followed a school project in a rural setting, showing how local stone and passive cooling strategies worked together to create a resilient learning space.
MGS Magazine
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Founded in 1995, MGS Magazine focuses on the materials and systems that power the construction industry. It reports on innovations in glass, facades, and prefabricated structures, often through case studies that bring in perspectives from manufacturers, consultants, and architects. An in-depth feature on a glass façade in Hyderabad revealed how performance requirements were balanced with the architect’s vision for transparency and light.
Good Homes India
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Since 2008, Good Homes India has opened the world of design to everyday readers while still offering valuable cues for professionals. Its features range from styling tips to room planning strategies, all grounded in real-life living. For architects, it serves as a pulse check on client aspirations. Stories on balcony gardens and compact kitchen layouts offer a glimpse into how households are reimagining space in response to changing lifestyles.
From Print to Practice
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These seven magazines form a vivid record of Indian architecture and design across decades. Each captures different facets of the discipline, from careful documentation of heritage projects to inventive approaches in contemporary residences and technical advances. The pages preserve debates, showcase creative solutions, and reflect the evolving priorities of architects and designers in India. Together, they offer readers a nuanced understanding of how the country’s built environment has developed and continues to change.
Their coverage ranges from materials and construction techniques to cultural influences and planning ideas, creating a layered perspective that is both educational and inspiring. By observing the diversity of approaches and voices, one can appreciate the depth, ambition, and creativity that define Indian architecture. These magazines remain more than publications; they are a testament to the country’s design conversation and a resource for anyone interested in its past, present, and future.
Ar. Pranjali Gandhare
Architect | Architectural Journalist | Historian
