Within the field of architecture, some people stand out as innovators who transform the structure of the built environment. Renowned for his contributions to Indian architecture, B.V. Doshi has made a lasting impression on a global level. He is renowned for his creative designs and his dedication to sustainable and human-centered architecture. In addition to founding one of India's top design schools and addressing affordable housing and town planning in various regions of the country, he has constructed over 100 buildings.

Balkrishna Doshi went beyond this early Western influence to create a design philosophy that combined modern architecture with traditional form and industrialism with primitivism. His guiding principles are that architecture should be sensitive to the needs and ambitions of the people it serves and that it should be anchored in its context and culture. Architecture, in his opinion, ought to be ‘for the people, by the people, and of the people’.

A deeper knowledge of the Indian background and culture is evident in his work, and he has been an outspoken supporter of using traditional building methods and materials in modern design.

Doshi was a proponent of the harmonious coexistence of natural and manmade surroundings, and he frequently incorporated natural elements into his designs, such as gardens, water features, and shading devices. He was a fervent supporter of sustainability and the buildings he designed were both environmentally friendly and used the least amount of energy possible.

Doshi was raised by a family of carpenters, having been born in Pune, India, in 1927. Doshi's early talent for art prompted him to attend Mumbai's Sir J.J. College of Architecture. Soon, his career commenced in the 1950s in Paris as Le Corbusier's mentee. In 1954, Doshi received an invitation from Le Corbusier to return to India and supervise the development of Chandigarh, the newly planned capital of the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, as well as other projects in Ahmedabad.

After two years, he established Vastu Shilpa, an architecture practice in Ahmedabad, where he would go on to create buildings that combined Modernist geometries with Indian construction practices and were executed using materials that were readily available in the local region. Among other structures, these comprised his domed studio, Sangath (meaning "moving together" in Sanskrit).

Known for his work in social housing and urban planning, and for being a visiting professor at several colleges across the world, he was also the architect of some of India's most famous structures.

CEPT University, established as the School of Architecture in Ahmedabad, showcases his work with Western architects and local inspiration. The building features funnel-like staircases for students, blurring formal and informal spaces and increasing interaction with nature. The concept aims to create an open building, with exposed brick and concrete façades, a combination common in Doshi's work. The building's design blurs the boundaries between formal and informal spaces, enhancing students' experience.

Vastu Shilpa Consultants' office, Sangath, is an iconic project that embodies fellowship and camaraderie. The building, composed of vaulted roofs, terraces, reflecting pools, and sunken spaces, is made of concrete and interlocked to merge the inside and outside. This design creates distinct spaces with different forms, light conditions, and ventilation that adapt to the local climate, ensuring better comfort and functionality.

Aranya Low-Cost Housing in Indore included 6,500 housing units with basic amenities like toilets, water, and electricity, with the possibility of future extension. The plan went beyond providing shelter, considering service allocation and space allocation, and included plans for training centres to create a community, not just a network of homes. Work on site began with 60 houses.

The artist conceptualized an underground art gallery called Amdavad ni Gufa, or the Cave of Ahmedabad in Gujarati, to showcase Indian artist M.F. Hussain's works. The gallery features painted walls and columns, Ferro cement mounds covered in porcelain tiles, and skylights that act as spotlights below. This design changes how gallery spaces and art perception are approached, redefining the way we approach gallery spaces.

Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, is an institutional project inspired by southern Indian temples. The building features courtyards, shaded walkways, and lush vegetation. The open volumes allow for easy ventilation, creating an experience similar to wandering around a temple in contemplative silence. Lush vegetation is also introduced within the structure and on the external walls.

All things being said, Doshi's projects showcase simplicity and a forward-thinking approach, rooted in Indian architecture. He used clean materials and clean volumes to create nurturing spaces. The musicality elevated these structures beyond their physical reality, fostering community and curiosity. The structures, made of brick and concrete, not only fit in with their surroundings but also encouraged curiosity.

Beyond just designing, the architect also undertook the role of an educator to mentor the upcoming generation of Indian architects over his extraordinary 95-year lifespan. He served on the juries of numerous national and international contests, such as the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts.

Among his other accolades and accomplishments are the Padma Bhushan, the RIBA Royal Gold Medal, the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture, the Padma Shri and the 45th Pritzker Prize, which is the greatest honour in architecture.

The architectural community is still affected by Doshi's legacy, and designers and architects all around the world are still motivated by his creations. He is regarded as one of the most significant architects of the century because of his creative designs, dedication to human-centered and sustainable architecture, and profound knowledge of the Indian context and culture. His legacy will continue to influence designers and architects for many years to come.

Professor Doshi's tasteful and sober, profoundly meaningful and thoughtful, exquisite and timeless architectural productions, rooted in our climate and culture, will serve as a counterpoint to the times when our cities' rapid transformation appears to be the new norm and glitzy and opulent buildings are frequently hailed as icons. His works serve as a reminder that architecture is more than simply a building with walls and floors; it is also a mirror of the human spirit, an artistic canvas, and a vehicle for social change. B.V. Doshi's legacy guides architects and enthusiasts to look beyond conventions, push boundaries, and construct structures that speak to the core of mankind as we continue to build and alter our urban landscapes. He defied expectations and forged an extraordinary career for himself, thus cherished for his brilliant mind, humility, and compassion for others.

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Text provided by Devangi Shah-

Devangi is a practicing architect, who considers Architecture like a bottomless pit that consistently keeps brimming with a different area of scope it can tackle and get to the bottom of. She likes to question the world around her and induce her creative limits through research and documentation. Her research enthusiast self believes, “Architecture is the art of designing for the present by reflecting upon our past, sensitively keeping in mind our future.”