Architecture today exists as much on screens as it does in cities and few have shaped that shift more powerfully than Anil Bayramiç. Through Architecture & Design, he built the world’s largest architecture-focused Instagram community, now followed by over 8 million people on Instagram and more than 10 million across digital platforms. What began 12 years ago as a small passion project has grown into a global digital force that influences how millions engage with architecture, engineering, innovation, and design every day.
At the heart of this journey is a sharp instinct for visual storytelling and a deep fascination with the built environment. Without any formal education in architecture, the platform was launched at just 19 years old, long before architecture content became a mainstream digital language. That early vision, combined with consistency and a strong editorial eye, transformed a niche idea into one of the most influential media ecosystems in the design world.
Today, Architecture & Design is more than a social media presence as it functions as a global reference point for architects, designers, and creative thinkers. Through collaborations with leading studios and international brands, it continues to bridge professional architecture with a wider public audience, making the discipline more accessible, visible, and culturally influential than ever before.
In this exclusive conversation with Parametric Architecture, Anil Bayramiç shares the story behind building the world’s largest architecture-focused Instagram community, reflects on the challenges of scaling a global media brand, and reveals the principles that continue to shape the future of Architecture & Design.
In Conversation with Anil Bayramiç:
Hamid Hassanzadeh: Before Architecture & Design became one of the world’s largest architecture platforms, who was Anil Bayramiç? Tell us about your journey and where it all started.
Anil Bayramiç: Of course. In fact, I’ve been interested in architecture and engineering since childhood. I used to watch documentaries and related programs all the time. However, I studied logistics at university and later public administration. When I tell people that, it sounds a bit unusual to them, but they usually respond positively. After all, achieving this kind of success from scratch isn’t easy, especially when I had no formal connection to either architecture or social media.
Hamid Hassanzadeh: What inspired you to create Architect & Design, and what was the original vision behind the page?
Anil Bayramiç: This all started purely as a hobby. In the early 2010s, Instagram didn’t even exist yet. I used to spend time on Facebook following pages about architecture and engineering, subjects I was genuinely interested in, and I really enjoyed the content. I was almost like a devoted follower. Then one day, an idea came to me: why not do this myself? Why not create my own blog page?
At the time, the architecture pages I followed on Facebook were already reaching millions of people, but Instagram was just starting to gain traction, so I decided to build my own page there. When I launched it, I was studying logistics at university and couldn’t focus on it much because of exams. I was sharing low-quality images I found online or on Pinterest. Because the truth is, no one starts something from scratch and does it perfectly from day one.
Hamid Hassanzadeh: Was there a specific moment when you realized this could become much bigger than just an Instagram account?
Anil Bayramiç: Of course. Once you reach a certain level of growth, it becomes necessary to focus on more than just one thing and explore different directions. That also requires taking different actions. Beyond Instagram, we are also active on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook, and we are continuing to grow there as well.
Our goal is not to depend on a single platform, but to create value for people, to truly influence them in the right way, and to reach as many audiences as possible around the world. My team and I are still doing our best every day to make that happen.
Hamid Hassanzadeh: Growing from zero to over 8 million plus followers is extraordinary. What do you think were the key decisions that made that growth possible?
Anil Bayramiç: As much as possible, create and share engaging, high-quality content, and present the best version of yourself to the people who follow you, with respect and sincerity. And above all, do what you truly love. Because when you do what you love, success somehow finds its way to you.
Hamid Hassanzadeh: Many people see the content, but few know what happens behind the scenes. Is Architect & Design run by a team today, or is it still largely driven by you?
Anil Bayramiç: At first, I was moving forward on my own, but once things reached a whole different level, I built my own team. As they say, teamwork makes the dream work.
Hamid Hassanzadeh: You also manage several other successful pages. How did you expand from one platform into a larger media network?
Anil Bayramiç: This process evolved naturally based on people’s interests and needs. We started with a single page, but over time, as we saw growing demand and interest in different areas, we began building new pages. Each new page gave us the opportunity to reach a different audience and offer more specific content tailored to them. That’s how we expanded from a single platform into a broader media network where each page supports and strengthens the others.
Hamid Hassanzadeh: What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced while building and scaling these platforms?
Anil Bayramiç: Just like when a baby is born, you need to understand its needs and make sure it can sleep comfortably, eat well, and grow properly. Building and managing this kind of platform is very similar. You have to meet its needs, consistently create content, maintain quality, and support its growth. Otherwise, I don’t think anyone would want to keep listening to a baby that cries nonstop all the time.
Hamid Hassanzadeh: Looking back, what are the biggest lessons you’ve learned about content, social media, and building an audience at this scale?
Anil Bayramiç: First of all, you can never fully know what someone is going through or what they are dealing with. That person could be a follower, a client, or simply a friend in your network. You should always be kind, well-intentioned, and humble toward people. Even if the other person has bad intentions, you should still choose kindness, because goodness always finds its way back in a good form. This should become a philosophy of life.
When it comes to content, you need to create things that people will genuinely enjoy, things that can inform them and broaden their perspective. Using AI is great, but only if you can use it properly as a tool. When used the right way, it can be incredibly valuable. Of course, without overdoing it.
Hamid Hassanzadeh: How has running Architect & Design changed your life personally and professionally?
Anil Bayramiç: It’s fair to say that this work has made me a more disciplined and selective person. After all, when you’re speaking to a large audience from all around the world, there’s a certain level of responsibility that comes with it. People always expect the best from you, and you have to show them the best version of yourself. You may be sick, sad, or going through a difficult time, but no matter what, you can’t let it affect the work you do, and that requires a great deal of composure and self-control.
Hamid Hassanzadeh: What’s next? Where do you see Architect & Design and your media business in five years from now?
Anil Bayramiç: I don’t want to give away too much yet, but we’re planning to take on even bigger and more exciting projects very soon, and it will be on a global scale. Hope you’ll like it
“When you do what you love, success somehow finds its way to you.”
