>Nizil Shah at 06:34, 4 May 2021

2021-05-04T06:34:33Z

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{{short description|Indian architect}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox architect
| name = B. V. Doshi
| image = Balkrishna Doshi.JPG
| nationality = [[India]]n
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age |1927|8|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Pune]], [[Bombay Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_place =
| practice = Vastu Shilpa Consultants
| significant_buildings = [[Indian Institute of Management Bangalore|IIM-Bangalore]], [[Indian Institute of Management Udaipur|IIM Udaipur]], [[National Institute of Fashion Technology]] [[New Delhi]]
| significant_projects =
| awards = [[Padma Bhushan]]<br/>[[Padma Shri]]<br/>[[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]] <br/> [[Pritzker Prize]]<br>[[Aga Khan Award for Architecture]]
| alma_mater = [[Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art|J. J. School of Architecture]], [[Mumbai]]
}}

'''Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi''', [[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres|OAL]], (born 26 August 1927) is an Indian [[architect]].<ref>[http://archnet.org/library/parties/one-party.jsp?party_id=12 Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823192406/http://archnet.org/library/parties/one-party.jsp?party_id=12 |date=2011-08-23 }} ArchNet 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2011.</ref> He is considered to be an important figure of Indian architecture and noted for his contributions to the evolution of architectural discourse in India.<ref>[http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=1027 Ashish Nangia: "Post Colonial India and its Architecture – II"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510142113/http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=1027 |date=10 May 2012 }}, in Boloji, 12-02-2006</ref> Having worked under [[Le Corbusier]] and [[Louis Kahn]], he is a pioneer of [[Modern architecture|modernist]] and [[Brutalist architecture|brutalist]] architecture in India.

His more noteworthy designs include the [[Indian Institute of Management Bangalore|IIM Bangalore]], [[Indian Institute of Management Udaipur|IIM Udaipur]], [[National Institute of Fashion Technology|NIFT Delhi]], [[Amdavad ni Gufa]], [[CEPT University]], and the Aranya Low Cost Housing development in [[Indore]] which was awarded the [[Aga Khan Award for Architecture]].<ref name="archdaily">{{cite news |date=7 March 2018 |title=Balkrishna Doshi Named 2018 Pritzker Prize Laureate |url=https://www.archdaily.com/890126/balkrishna-doshi-named-2018-pritzker-prize-laureate |work=ArchDaily |access-date=7 March 2018 }}</ref>

In 2018, he became the first [[Indian people|Indian]] architect to receive the [[Pritzker Architecture Prize]], which is considered one of the most prestigious prizes in architecture.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|last=Pogrebin|first=Robin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/07/arts/design/pritzker-prize-balkrishna-doshi.html|title=Top Architecture Prize Goes to Low-Cost Housing Pioneer From India|date=2018-03-07|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2020-03-05|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|author-link=Robin Pogrebin}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news|title=B V Doshi 1st Indian to win 'Nobel' for architecture|last=Rajghatta|first=Chidanand|date=8 March 2018|work=The Times of India|access-date=7 May 2018}}</ref> He has also been awarded the [[Padma Shri]] and the [[Padma Bhushan]].<ref name=":3" />

==Early life==
Doshi was born in [[Pune]].<ref>[http://backnumber.japan-architect.co.jp/english/2maga/au/magazine/2001/05/architect/001/main.html Japan Architect, nr.05, 2001]</ref> At the age of 11, he was injured in a fire accident, and has walked with a slight limp ever since.<ref name=":1" /> He studied at the [[Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art|Sir J. J. School of Art]] in [[Mumbai]] between 1947 and 1950.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-43326825|title=Every object around us is in symphony|date=2018-03-08|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-03-05|language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Career==
[[File:Le_Corbusier_Balkrishna_Doshi_Shodhan_House.jpg|thumb|Doshi with [[Le Corbusier]] at the unfinished [[Villa Shodhan|Shodhan House]], c. 1955.]]

===Early projects===
[[File:IIM-B 016.jpg|thumb|Academic Block of [[Indian Institute of Management Bangalore|IIM-Bangalore]]]]
[[File:IIM-B 026.jpg|thumb|Library Block of [[Indian Institute of Management Bangalore|IIM-Bangalore]]]]
[[File:Amdavad ni gufa.jpg|thumb|[[Amdavad ni Gufa|Husain-Doshi Gufa]], Ahmedabad]]
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]], [[Mill Owners' Association Building]], and [[Sanskar Kendra]]. Corbusier is described as a major influence on Doshi's later work.

His studio, Vastu-Shilpa (environmental design), was established in 1955. Doshi worked closely with [[Louis Kahn]] and [[Anant Raje]], when Kahn designed the campus of the [[Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad]]. In 1958 he was a fellow at the [[Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts]]. He then started the School of Architecture (S.A) in 1962.

===Teaching===
Apart from his international fame as an architect, Dr. 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.

Dr. 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.<ref name="nytimes">[https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/07/arts/design/pritzker-prize-balkrishna-doshi.html Top Architecture Prize Goes to Low-Cost Housing Pioneer From India], By Robin Pogrebin, New York Times, 7 March 2018.</ref>

===Recognition===
Doshi is a Fellow of the [[Royal Institute of British Architects]] and has been on the selection committee for the [[Pritzker Prize]], the [[Indira Gandhi]] National Centre for Arts, and the [[Aga Khan Award for Architecture]]. 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]] in 2007, the award's first edition. The award recognized Doshi's significant step in the direction of an alternative development model.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Contal|first1=Marie-Hélène|title=Sustainable Design: Towards a New Ethic in Architecture and Town Planning|last2=Revedin|first2=Jana|publisher=Birkhäuser|date=June 2009|isbn=978-3-7643-9938-2|location=Germany}}</ref>

In March 2018, Doshi was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the [[Nobel Prize|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".<ref name=":0" />

== Style ==
Doshi says that he has been inspired by historic Indian monuments, as well as the work of European and American architects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/03/balkrishna-doshi-architecture-backdrop-life-180309122903881.html|title=Balkrishna Doshi: 'Architecture is a backdrop to life'|last=Saberin|first=Zeenat|date=2018-03-08|website=[[Al Jazeera]]|access-date=2020-03-05}}</ref>

==Awards==
[[File:27 June 2017 Balkrishna Doshi (Sthapatya) Saraswat Award.jpg|thumb|C. K. Mehta presenting the [[Dhirubhai Thakar Savyasachi Saraswat Award]] to Doshi on 27 June 2017]]
In recognition of his distinguished contribution as a professional and as an academician, Doshi has received several international and national awards and honours.

* [[Padma Bhushan]], Government of India, 2020<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Padma Awards |url=https://padmaawards.gov.in/PDFS/2020AwardeesList.pdf}}</ref>
* [[Dhirubhai Thakar Savyasachi Saraswat Award]], 2017<ref>{{cite web|title=K G Subramanyan awarded Savyasachi Award| website=The Times of India|date=28 June 2015|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/K-G-Subramanyan-awarded-Savyasachi-Award/articleshow/47848888.cms|access-date=15 July 2010}}</ref>
*[[Pritzker Architecture Prize]], 2018<ref name="nytimes"/>
*[[Global Award for Sustainable Architecture]], 2007 (first edition)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Global Award for Sustainable Architecture|url=http://www.citedelarchitecture.fr/en/article/global-award-sustainable-architecture|access-date=2020-06-04|website=Cité de l'architecture & du patrimoine|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Padma Shri]], Government of India, 1976
* Honorary doctorate from the [[University of Pennsylvania]].
* France's highest honour for arts the [[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres|Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters]], 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/B-V-Doshi-conferred-Frances-highest-honour-for-arts/articleshow/9928307.cms|title=B V Doshi conferred France's highest honour for arts {{!}} Ahmedabad News – Times of India|date=2011-09-11|website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en|access-date=2020-03-05}}</ref>
*[[Aga Khan Award for Architecture|6th Aga Khan Award for Architecture]] for Aranya Community Housing, 1993–1995.<ref name=archdaily/>

==Buildings==
{{more citations needed|section|date=August 2018}}
*1969–71 ECIL Township, [[Hyderabad]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://identityhousing.wordpress.com/2009/12/11/balkrishna-doshi-towniship-electronics-corporation-of-india-ltd-hyderabad-1968-1971/|title=Balkrishna Doshi – Towniship: Electronics Corporation of India, Ltd., Hyderabad, 1968–1971 |last=Barberini |first=Elisa |date=2011-11-12 |access-date=2018-11-20 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/photos-9-iconic-buildings-designed-by-architect-bv-doshi/|title=9 iconic buildings designed by BV Doshi|date=2017-08-26|website=Architectural Digest India|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-05}}</ref>
*1979–80 Sangath, BV Doshi's office, [[Ahmedabad]]
*1979–87 Shakti Bhavan, Administrative Office of M.P. Electricity Board, [[Jabalpur]]
*1972 [[CEPT University|Centre for Environment and Planning Technology]] (CEPT), Ahmedabad
*1962–74 [[Indian Institute of Management Bangalore]]
*1982 Mahatma Gandhi Labour institute
*1989 [[National Institute of Fashion Technology]], [[Delhi]]
*1990 [[Amdavad ni Gufa]], Ahmedabad
*Aranya Low Cost Housing, [[Indore]]<ref name=":2" />
*IFFCO township, Kalol
*Sawai Gandharva, [[Pune]]
*Premabhai Hall, Ahmedabad
*1966–71 [[Tagore Memorial Hall]], Ahmedabad
*Vidyadhar Nagar, [[Jaipur]]
*Udayan the Condoville, Udita (HIG), Utsav (MIG) Utsarg (LIG) 2500 homes, [[Kolkata]]
*[[Indian Institute of Management Lucknow|Indian Institute of Management]], [[Lucknow]]<ref name=":0" />
*Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad<ref name=":0" />

==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]]'', playing himself.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|last1=Shah|first1=Devanshi|title=9 amazing facts you absolutely wouldn't have guessed about BV Doshi|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/9-amazing-facts-about-architect-bv-doshi/|website=Architectural Digest|access-date=8 March 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [[William J. R. Curtis|Curtis, William J. R.]], ''Balikrishna Doshi: An Architecture for India'', Rizzoli, New York 1988, {{ISBN|0-8478-0937-4}}
* James Steel, ''The Complete Architecture of Balikrishna Doshi, Rethinking Modernism for the Developing World'', Thames and Hudson, London 1998, {{ISBN|0-500-28082-7}}
* Bruno Melotto ed., ''Balkrishna Doshi. Sangath. Indian architecture between tradition and modernity'', Maggioli Editore, Santarcangelo di Romagna 2012, {{ISBN|88-387-6126-4}}
* Bruno Melotto ed., ''Balkrishna Doshi. The Masters in India. Le Corbusier, Louis Kahn and the Indian Context'', Maggioli Editore, Santarcangelo di Romagna 2014, {{ISBN|978-88-387-6295-6}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Balkrishna Doshi}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20030328053642/http://sangath.org/ Vastu Shilpa Consultants and Vastu Shilpa Foundation]
*[http://architexturez.net/documents/author/23114 Texts, Interviews and Projects by B. V. Doshi] on Architexturez South Asia

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{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Science & Engineering}}
{{Pritzker Prize laureates}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2020–2029}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Doshi, B. V.}}
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in other fields]]
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian architects]]
[[Category:Artists from Pune]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Indian urban planners]]
[[Category:Pritzker Architecture Prize winners]]
[[Category:People from Ahmedabad]]

B. V. Doshi - Revision history

>Nizil Shah at 06:34, 4 May 2021