Balkrishna Doshi was born in Pune, India in 1927 into a family of furniture makers. In 1947, he began his architecture education at the Sir JJ College of Architecture in Mumbai. After working in Europe under Le Corbusier, he returned to India in 1954 to oversee his mentor’s projects in Chandigarh and Ahmedabad. In 1962, he began working with Louis Kahn on the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, and the two enjoyed a ‘yogi-student’ working relationship for more than ten years.

Doshi founded his practice, Vāstu Shilpā (today Vāstu Shilpā Consultants) in 1965, blending Indian history, culture and vernacular with the Western styles he was apprenticed with. Doshi is known for his low-cost social housing, and notable projects include the Aga Khan Award-winning Aranya Community Housing in Indore, Life Insurance Corporation Housing, the Tagore Memorial Hall, The School of Architecture at CEPT university, and his studio, Sangath (all in Ahmedabad).

Doshi has received numerous awards and recognitions, including, most recently, the Pritzker Prize (2018), Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters of France (2011); Global Award for Lifetime Achievement for Sustainable Architecture, Institut Francais d’Architecture, Paris (2007); Prime Minister’s National Award for Excellence in Urban Planning and Design, India (2000); Aga Khan Award for Architecture (1993-1995), and more. Doshi’s work as an educator is significant and he worked on the International Charter on the Education of Architects. Until 2012, Doshi founded, directed and chaired the School of Architecture and Planning in Ahmedabad (today CEPT University), where he is currently Dean Emeritus.

Balkrishna Doshi

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