Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi OAL (born 26 August 1927) is an Indian

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

. He is considered to be an important figure of Indian architecture and noted for his contributions to the evolution of architectural discourse in India. Having worked under Le Corbusier and

Louis Kahn Louis Isadore Kahn (born Itze-Leib Schmuilowsky; – March 17, 1974) was an Estonian-born American architect based in Philadelphia. After working in various capacities for several firms in Philadelphia, he founded his own atelier in 1935. Whi ...

, he is a pioneer of

modernist Modernism is both a philosophy, philosophical and arts movement that arose from broad transformations in Western world, Western society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement reflected a desire for the creation of new fo ...

and brutalist architecture in India. His more noteworthy designs include

FLAME University FLAME University is a private, coeducational and fully residential liberal education university located in Pune, India. It was formerly known as FLAME - Foundation for Liberal and Management Education. Leadership The academic program at the FLA ...

IIM Bangalore The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are central government-owned-public business schools for management offering undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and executive programmes along with some additional courses in the field of busines ...

, IIM Udaipur, NIFT Delhi, Amdavad ni Gufa, CEPT University, and the Aranya Low Cost Housing development in

Indore Indore () is the largest and most populous city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It serves as the headquarters of both Indore District and Indore Division. It is also considered as an education hub of the state and is the only city to ...

which was awarded the

Aga Khan Award for Architecture The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) is an architectural prize established by Aga Khan IV in 1977. It aims to identify and reward architectural concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of Muslim societies in the field ...

. In 2018, he became the first

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

architect to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize, which is considered one of the most prestigious prizes in architecture. He has also been awarded the

Padma Shri Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conf ...

and the

Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service ...

. He has been awarded the

Royal Institute of British Architects The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three supp ...

Royal Gold Medal The Royal Gold Medal for architecture is awarded annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects on behalf of the British monarch, in recognition of an individual's or group's substantial contribution to international architecture. It is gi ...

for 2022.

Early life

Doshi was born in

Pune Pune (; ; also known as Poona, ( the official name from 1818 until 1978) is one of the most important industrial and educational hubs of India, with an estimated population of 7.4 million As of 2021, Pune Metropolitan Region is the largest i ...

. At the age of 11, he was injured in a fire accident, and has walked with a slight limp ever since. He studied at the Sir J. J. School of Art in

Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' fin ...

between 1947 and 1950.

Career

Early projects

In 1950, he went to Europe. He worked closely with Le Corbusier on the latter's projects in Paris between 1951 and 1954. In 1954, he returned to India to supervise Corbusier's buildings in Ahmedabad, which included the Villa Sarabhai,

Villa Shodhan Villa Shodhan (or Shodhan House) is a modernist villa located in Ahmedabad, India. Designed by the Swiss architect Le Corbusier, it was built between 1951 and 1956. Building on his previous projects whilst integrating the traditional features o ...

Mill Owners' Association Building Mill Owners’ Association Building, also known as Ahmedabad Textile Mill Owners' Association House (ATMA House), is a modern architecture building in Ahmedabad, India designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier. History Le Corbusier came ...

, and Sanskar Kendra. Corbusier is described as a major influence on Doshi's later work. Le_Corbusier_Balkrishna_Doshi_Shodhan_House

His studio, Vastu-Shilpa (environmental design), was established in 1955. Doshi worked closely with

and Anant Raje, when Kahn designed the campus of the

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM Ahmedabad) is the world's number 1 business school, located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The school has been accorded the status of an Institute of National Importance by Ministry of Human Resourc ...

. In 1958 he was a fellow at the

Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts The Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit that “fosters the development and exchange of diverse and challenging ideas about architecture and its role in the arts, culture, and society. The Graham realize ...

. He then started the School of Architecture (S.A) in 1962.

Teaching

Apart from his international fame as an architect, Doshi is equally known as an educator and institution builder. He has been the first founder Director of the School of Architecture, Ahmedabad (1962–72), first founder Director of the School of Planning (1972–79), first founder Dean of the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (1972–81), founder member of the Visual Arts Centre, Ahmedabad and first founder Director of the Kanoria Centre for Arts, Ahmedabad. Doshi has been instrumental in establishing the nationally and internationally known research institute Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for Studies and Research in Environmental Design. The institute has done pioneering work in low-cost housing and city planning. His work is considered noteworthy for his pioneering work on low-income housing. He is also noted for designs which incorporate concepts of sustainability in innovative ways.Top Architecture Prize Goes to Low-Cost Housing Pioneer From India
By Robin Pogrebin, New York Times, 7 March 2018.

Recognition

Doshi is a Fellow of the

and has been on the selection committee for the Pritzker Prize, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, and the

. He is also a Fellow of the Indian Institute of Architects. Doshi's work on the reunification of Indian and English heritages through his practice was awarded a

Global Award for Sustainable Architecture The Global Award for Sustainable Architecture was founded in 2006 by architect and scholar Jana Revedin. The Global Award Community, which in 2022 consists of the 75 contemporary architects or architect collectives from around the globe who have ...

in 2007, the award's first edition. The award recognized Doshi's significant step in the direction of an alternative development model. In March 2018, Doshi was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the Nobel equivalent for the field, thus becoming the first Indian to receive the honour. The Pritzker jury announced that Doshi "has always created an architecture that is serious, never flashy or a follower of trends", and noted his "deep sense of responsibility and a desire to contribute to his country and its people through high quality, authentic architecture".

Style

Doshi says that he has been inspired by historic Indian monuments, as well as the work of European and American architects.

Awards

In recognition of his distinguished contribution as a professional and as an academician, Doshi has received several international and national awards and honours. 27 June 2017 Balkrishna Doshi (Sthapatya) Saraswat Award

27 June 2017 Balkrishna Doshi (Sthapatya) Saraswat Award

, Royal Gold Medal for Architecture for the year 2022, Government of United Kingdom, through the RIBA and by personal approval by Her Majesty The Queen – it is the UK’s highest architectural honor. *

, Government of India, 2020 *

Dhirubhai Thakar Savyasachi Saraswat Award The Dhirubhai Thakar Savyasachi Saraswat Award is an honour in Gujarat, India, given annually to the person who has contributed significantly in the field of Arts. The award, created in honour of Gujarati writer and scholar Dhirubhai Thaker, is ...

, 2017 * Pritzker Architecture Prize, 2018 *

, 2007 (first edition) *

, Government of India, 1976 * Honorary doctorate from the

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...

* France's highest honour for arts the Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters, 2011 * 6th Aga Khan Award for Architecture for Aranya Community Housing, 1993–1995

Buildings

*1962 – Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad *1966 – Centre for Environment and Planning Technology (CEPT), Ahmedabad *1967 – Tagore Memorial Hall, Ahmedabad *1972 – ECIL Township,

Hyderabad Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India ...

. *1973 –

IFFCO Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited, also known as IFFCO, is a multi-state cooperative society. IFFCO is wholly owned by Cooperative Societies of India. The society is engaged in the business of manufacturing and marketing of fertilize ...

township, Kalol *1976 – Premabhai Hall, Ahmedabad *1977 –

Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore or IIMB) is a public business school and Institute of National Importance located in Bangalore, India. Founded in 1973, it was the third IIM to be established, after IIM Calcutta and I ...

*1979 – Sangath, B. V. Doshi's office, Ahmedabad *1979 – Shakti Bhavan, Administrative Office of M. P. Electricity Board,

Jabalpur Jabalpur is a city situated on the banks of Narmada River in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. According to the 2011 census, it is the third-largest urban agglomeration in Madhya Pradesh and the country's 38th-largest urban agglomeration. J ...

*1979 – Mahatma Gandhi Labour Institute *1982 – Aranya Low Cost Housing,

*1984 – Vidyadhar Nagar,

Jaipur Jaipur (; Hindi: ''Jayapura''), formerly Jeypore, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. , the city had a population of 3.1 million, making it the tenth most populous city in the country. Jaipur is also known ...

*1989 – National Institute of Fashion Technology,

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders ...

*1990 – Amdavad ni Gufa, Ahmedabad *1997 – Sawai Gandharva Smarak,

*2002 – Udayan the Condoville, Udita (HIG), Utsav (MIG) Utsarg (LIG) 2500 homes,

Kolkata Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comme ...

Popular culture

In 2008, Hundredhands director Premjit Ramachandran released a documentary interviewing Doshi. He appeared as himself in Mani Ratnam's '' O Kadhal Kanmani'', and Shaad Ali's '' Ok Jaanu''.

Personal life

Doshi married Kamala Parikh in 1955. They have three daughters - Tejal, Radhika and Maneesha. Tejal Panthaki is a textile designer, Radhika Kathpalia is an architect and fashion designer, whereas Maneesha Akkitham is a painter.

References

External links

Vāstu Shilpā Consultants
* *Interview with DD Bharati on YouTube
Part-1
an
Part-2Texts, Interviews and Projects by B. V. Doshi
on Architexturez South Asia
27th Annual Architecture Lecture
at the Royal Academy of Arts on YouTube {{DEFAULTSORT:Doshi, B. V. Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in other fields 1927 births Living people Gujarati people 20th-century Indian architects Artists from Pune Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering Indian urban planners Pritzker Architecture Prize winners People from Ahmedabad Indian architects Recipients of the Royal Gold Medal