Founder of Ahmedabad’s School of Architecture and designer of numerous buildings including IIM- Bangalore and Amdavad-ni-Gufa, BV Doshi gave a new face to the Indian Architecture. Apart from his incredible legacy in his work, Doshi’s wisdom and understanding of life became an inspiration for many. The architect spent his early life working with famous artists like Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn. He was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2018, RIBA’s Royal Gold Medal in 2021 and the prestigious Padma Shri in 1976 for his outstanding contribution to the field of architecture. Doshi’s knowledge and observation influenced the architectural consciousness throughout his lifetime. He quoted: “The Indian way of life is encroaching things, overlapping things, adding new things all the time and changing themselves. We are not the ones who design a space and think about that space as something which is sacred, but we think it’s part and parcel of us. We are natural, we dress naturally, behave naturally, collaborate naturally.”  

Summarising his philosophy, he quoted: “true architecture is life.”

A 70 year-long artistic journey

Brought up in Pune, Doshi spent his early years at his father’s carpentry workshop. His interest in drawing and painting led him to the JJ School of Architecture in Bombay. He suddenly changed his plans in the midway and moved to London to become an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Soon after, he met Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier in Paris and began working with the architect who shaped the magnificent city of Chandigarh. Doshi was also closely associated with American architect Louis Kahn, who designed the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. After working with renowned designers and architects, Doshi’s inspiration and experience helped him to design numerous buildings across the country including his first low-cost housing for ATIRA Ahmedabad Textile Industry Research Association), the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore, his collaborative project with the legendary artist MF Husain, Amdavad-ni-Gufa, the popular Aranya Community Housing in Indore, the National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi and Ahmedabad’s Kanoria Centre for Arts administration building followed by its art gallery in 2005 and 2012 respectively.

Balkrishna Doshi’s contribution to Indian Architecture is unforgettable and he will forever reside in the hearts of Indians.

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