Balkrishna Doshi
Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi (26 August 1927 – 24 January 2023) was an Indian architect. He is an important figure in Indian architecture and noted for his contributions to the evolution of architectural discourse in India. Having worked under Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn, he was a pioneer of modernist and brutalist architecture in India.
Also recorded as Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi · B. V. Doshi · Balkrishna V. Doshi
Balkrishna Doshi
Sanyam Bahga · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Born
- 1927.
- Died
- 2023.
- Nationality
- British Raj and India.
- Occupation
- architect, urban planner and teacher.
- Known for
- Amdavad ni Gufa.
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Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi (26 August 1927 – 24 January 2023) was an Indian architect. He is an important figure in Indian architecture and noted for his contributions to the evolution of architectural discourse in India. Having worked under Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn, he was a pioneer of modernist and brutalist architecture in India.
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Balkrishna Doshi (1927–2023) was an architect, teacher and urban planner and a national of the British Raj and India. Born in Pune, the architect died in Ahmedabad.
Balkrishna Doshi studied at CEPT University, Fergusson College and Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art. The architect was active in Architecture, architecture of India and brutalist architecture.
Works include Amdavad ni Gufa. Languages used include English, Gujarati and Hindi. Balkrishna Doshi received Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Dhirubhai Thakar Savyasachi Saraswat Award and Global Award for Sustainable Architecture, among others.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q380449 · wikipedia · B. V. Doshi
In this article
Early life
Early life
His noteworthy designs include FLAME University, IIM Bangalore, IIM Udaipur, NIFT Delhi, Amdavad ni Gufa, CEPT University, and the Aranya Low Cost Housing development in Indore for which was awarded the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Nalanda International University that was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was designed by him. In 2018, he became the first Indian architect to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize. He was also awarded the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan, the Padma Vibhushan, and the Royal Institute of British Architects' Royal Gold Medal for 2022.
Doshi was born to a Gujarati Vaishnav Hindu family in Pune. His mother died when he was 10 months old and his father remarried, with his grandfather and aunts helping raise him. At the age of eleven, he was injured in a fire accident, and thereafter walked with a slight limp. He studied at the Sir J. J. School of Art in Mumbai between 1947 and 1950.
Early projects
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, Mill Owners' Association Building, and Sanskar Kendra. Corbusier is described as having been 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.
Bimanagar
Bimanagar
Bimanagar Housing Society, located at Ahmedabad is one of the well-known project by Shri B.V Doshi. He once said, "One of my most favourite housing projects is the one I designed for Life Insurance Corporation, at Ahmedabad. Here I knew that the houses would be occupied by several generations of the same family, that they would identify with it, that there will be a strong sense of belonging and that their needs will change, and they may modify parts of it.”
Personal life and death
Personal life and death
Doshi married Kamala Parikh in 1955. They had three daughters – Tejal, Radhika, and Maneesha. Tejal Panthaki is a textile designer, Radhika Kathpalia is an architect and fashion designer, and Maneesha Akkitham is a painter. Khushnu Panthaki Hoof is Doshi's grand daughter and architect and currently head Balkrishna Doshi Archives and Vastushilpa Foundation. She along with her husband Sönke Hoof are Principal Architects of Studio Sangath. Doshi died in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on 24 January 2023, at age 95.
Recognition
Recognition
Doshi was a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects and sat on the selection committee for the Pritzker Prize, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. He was 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. 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". Padma Vibhushan (posthumous), Government of India, 2023 Royal Gold Medal, Royal Gold Medal for Architecture, Government of United Kingdom, 2022 Padma Bhushan, Government of India, 2020 Dhirubhai Thakar Savyasachi Saraswat Award, 2017 Pritzker Architecture Prize, 2018 Global Award for Sustainable Architecture, 2007 (first edition) Padma Shri, Government of India, 1976 Honorary doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters, France, 2011 6th Aga Khan Award for Architecture for Aranya Community Housing, 1993–1995
Buildings
Buildings
1962 – Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad 1966 – Centre for Environment and Planning Technology (CEPT), Ahmedabad 1967 – Tagore Memorial Hall, Ahmedabad 1972 – ECIL Township, Hyderabad. 1973 – IFFCO township, Kalol 1976 – Premabhai Hall, Ahmedabad 1977 – Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore 1979 – Sangath, B. V. Doshi's office, Ahmedabad 1979 – Shakti Bhavan, Administrative Office of M. P. Electricity Board, Jabalpur 1979 – Mahatma Gandhi Labour Institute 1982 – Aranya Low Cost Housing, Indore 1984 – Vidyadhar Nagar, Jaipur 1984 – Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, Ahmedabad 1989 – National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi 1990 – Amdavad ni Gufa, Ahmedabad 1997 – Sawai Gandharva Smarak, Pune 2002 – Udayan the Condoville, Udita (HIG), Utsav (MIG) Utsarg (LIG) 2500 homes, Kolkata
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1927
Balkrishna Doshi born at Pune.
2023
Balkrishna Doshi died at Ahmedabad.
Teaching
Apart from his international fame as an architect, Doshi is equally known for having been an educator and institution builder. He was the founding director of the School of Architecture, Ahmedabad (1962–72), founding director of the School of Planning (1972–79), founding dean of the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (1972–81), founding member of the Visual Arts Centre, Ahmedabad, and founding director of the Kanoria Centre for Arts, Ahmedabad. Doshi was instrumental in establishing the nationally- and internationally-known research institute Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for Studies and Research in Environmental Design. The institute has performed pioneering work in low-cost housing and city planning. He is noteworthy for his pioneering work on low-income housing, and for his designs that incorporate concepts of sustainability in innovative ways.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi. . ArchNet 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
- 2.Ashish Nangia. Balkrishna V Doshi: The Mythical and the Modern. 12 February 2006.
- 3.Balkrishna Doshi Named 2018 Pritzker Prize Laureate. ArchDaily. 7 March 2018.
- 4.History and Revival.
- 5.Sukanya, Sumi. Great library to recreate Nalanda romance - Chief designer Balkrishna Doshi discloses master plan details of self-sufficient varsity. The Telegraph India. 17 May 2013.
- 6.Pogrebin, Robin. Top Architecture Prize Goes to Low-Cost Housing Pioneer From India. The New York Times. 7 March 2018. 0362-4331.
- 7.Rajghatta, Chidanand. B V Doshi 1st Indian to win 'Nobel' for architecture. The Times of India. 8 March 2018.
- 8.Royal Gold Medal 2022 recipient: Balkrishna Doshi.
- 9.Utpal Sharma. In Conversation: B.V. Doshi. Sahapedia. 2018.
- 10.Balkrishna Doshi. Timeline of his life & works.
- 11.Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi. Japan Architect. 5. 2001.
- 12.Every object around us is in symphony. BBC. 8 March 2018.
- 13.About BV Doshi. www.archerindia.com. 25 January 2023.
- 14.Pogrebin, Robin. Top Architecture Prize Goes to Low-Cost Housing Pioneer From India. The New York Times. 7 March 2018. 0362-4331.
- 15.Shah, Devanshi. 9 amazing facts you absolutely wouldn't have guessed about BV Doshi. Architectural Digest. 26 August 2017.
- 16.Saberin, Zeenat. Balkrishna Doshi: 'Architecture is a backdrop to life'. Al Jazeera. 8 March 2018.
- 17.Tejal Design Studio. www.baroda.com.
- 18.VSC Vāstu Shilpā Consultants – Team. Indian-Architects.
- 19.Maneesha Doshi. Saffronart.
- 20.Balkrishna Doshi Archives. vastushilpa.org.
- 21.Bernstein, Fred A. Balkrishna Doshi, Modernist Indian Architect, is Dead at 95. The New York Times. 24 January 2023.
- 22.Architecture as a Craft - Khushnu Panthaki Hoof and Sönke Hoof of Studio Sangath.
- 23.Celebrated architect Balkrishna Doshi passes away at 95. The New Indian Express. 24 January 2023.
- 24.Bernstein, Fred A. Balkrishna Doshi, Modernist Indian Architect, Is Dead at 95. The New York Times. 24 January 2023.
- 25.Contal, Marie-Hélène. Sustainable Design: Towards a New Ethic in Architecture and Town Planning. Birkhäuser. June 2009. 978-3-7643-9938-2.
- 26.Padma Awards 2023 announced. www.pib.gov.in.
- 27.updated, Ellie Stathaki last. Balkrishna Doshi wins 2022 Royal Gold Medal for Architecture. wallpaper.com. 9 December 2021.
- 28.padmaawards.gov.in. 29 February 2020.
- 29.K G Subramanyan awarded Savyasachi Award. The Times of India. 28 June 2015.
- 30.Global Award for Sustainable Architecture. Cité de l'architecture & du patrimoine.
- 31.B V Doshi conferred France's highest honour for arts Ahmedabad News – Times of India. The Times of India. 11 September 2011.
- 32.Institute of Indology. www.architectmagazine.com. 7 March 2018.
- 33.St. James Press. Contemporary Architects. 234–237. 1987. 978-0-912289-26-7.
- 34.Barberini, Elisa. Balkrishna Doshi – Towniship: Electronics Corporation of India, Ltd., Hyderabad, 1968–1971. 12 November 2011.
- 35.9 iconic buildings designed by BV Doshi. Architectural Digest India. 26 August 2017.
- 36.About. Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum.
- 37.When Hauz Khas ruins, kund steps and gopuram gateways inspired BV Doshi to design NIFT Delhi. The Indian Express. 22 February 2020.
- 38.Shahane, Devayani. PM to inaugurate Sawai Gandharva Smarak. The Times of India. 2 January 2003.
- 39.Udayan ~ The Condoville. Ambuja Neotia.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 5
- Curtis, William J. R., Balikrishna Doshi: An Architecture for India, Rizzoli, New York 1988,
- James Steel, The Complete Architecture of Balikrishna Doshi, Rethinking Modernism for the Developing World, Thames and Hudson, London 1998,
- Bruno Melotto ed., Balkrishna Doshi. Sangath. Indian architecture between tradition and modernity, Maggioli Editore, Santarcangelo di Romagna 2012,
- Bruno Melotto ed., Balkrishna Doshi. The Masters in India. Le Corbusier, Louis Kahn and the Indian Context, Maggioli Editore, Santarcangelo di Romagna 2014,
- Doshi, Balkrishna V. Balkrishna Doshi: architecture for the people. Vitra Design Museum. 2019. 978-3-945852-31-6.
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