Balkrishna Doshi Wins Pritzker Architecture Prize, Becomes The First Indian To Receive The Honour

Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi, known for designing iconic buildings such as Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore and the Aranya Low Cost Housing development in Indore; has become the first Indian to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Over the years, Doshi has become popular for creating more than a hundred buildings that reflect his low-cost housing complexes, public projects as well as educational and cultural institutions all over the country.

The Pritzker jury said, “Balkrishna Doshi constantly demonstrates that all good architecture and urban planning must not only unite purpose and structure but must take into account climate, site, technique, and craft, along with a deep understanding and appreciation of the context in the broadest sense.” Doshi started studying architecture the same year when India gained independence, 1947. Born in Pune, Doshi was trained under iconic Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier in Paris in the 1950s. He returned India to supervise Corbusier’s pioneering projects in Chandigarh and Ahmedabad. And in the year 1955, Doshi established his own firm Vastu Shilpa in Ahmedabad.

Some of his key projects include the Ahmedabad School of Architecture (1966), the barrel-vaulted studio he created for his studio Vast Shilpa (1981) and the beautiful Amdavad ni Gufa (1995). He also designed Aranya Low Cost Housing development in Indore, which holds nearly 80,000 individuals across 6,500 residences.

According to media reports, Doshi was awarded the prize by a jury including Richard Rogers, Sejima Kazuyo, Glenn Murcutt and Martha Thorne. He will receive a grant and bronze medallion at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada on May 16, 2018. “My works are an extension of my life, philosophy and dreams trying to create treasury of the architectural spirit. I owe this prestigious prize to my guru, Le Corbusier. His teachings led me to question identity and compelled me to discover new regionally adopted contemporary expression for a sustainable holistic habitat,” said the 90 years old, Doshi.

Here are some of Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi's work:

Sangath Architect's Studio

Kamala House

Institute of Indology 

Aranya Low Cost Housing 

Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology

Pritzker Architecture Prize is modelled on the Nobel Prize and was set up in 1979 to honour the work of living architects. The Prize is awarded annually to honour a living architect(s) whose work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment and has produced significant contributions to humanity and built the environment through the art of architecture. Jay A. Pritzker and his wife Cindy founded the award and is funded by the Pritzker family and sponsored by the Hyatt Foundation. Last year, it was awarded to Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta from Spain for their outstanding contributions in the field of architecture. Balkrishna Doshi is the 40th winner to receive this honour.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 08, 2018 12:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).