C – COMPREHENSIVE

R – RESPONSIBILITY

E – EXPRESSION

A – ALIVE

T – TIMELESSNESS

E – ETERNAL

“ARCHITECTURE IS CREATION”

The definition of Architecture is evolving and redefining for a robust Indian architect B.V. Doshi.

Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi, also known as B. V. Doshi, has been an architect, urban planner, and educator for 70 years. He has been changing the course of architecture since independence in India. Integration of arts and traditions deeply rooted in his upbringing which were enhanced, when he joined Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn in early years of his architecture journey. In considering India’s traditions, lifestyles, and environment, Doshi designed structures that offered refuge from the weather and provided spaces in which to gather.

As he returned, India was free and was struggling from economic crises. As his definition for architecture was keep evolving, he vowed to work for the poor and poorest of people, as architecture is Humanity also, therefore designing projects like LIC,AHMEDABAD & ARANYA LOW COST HOUSING, INDORE. For B.V. Doshi, architecture is living organism which is alive, have a sense of dialog, entity and is dynamic. He has purely related architecture as his spirituality.

  • LAW OF INTEGRATION
  • LAW OF ROUTINE
  • LAW OF DYNAMIC GROWTH

These were the three laws on which he believed and worked upon. The purpose was simple – “HOW DO I USE THE VIRTUE OF WASTELAND, LEVELS, FEELING OF CONNECTED TO NATURE”. With this mindset he developed a school of planning and architecture, and keep evolving his definition of architecture through his work. Multipurpose spaces, sustainability, affordability, responsibility of community, employment, adaptability of accept situations, expression, integration, adding dimension to the space and design, all these factors define his design philosophies.

CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND TECHNOLOGY, CEPT

CEPT is located in the heart of the Ahmedabad city, in the university area and has been designed by Doshi himself. Doshi and his contemporaries believe that a student of architecture must be surrounded by beauty and art, so that he/she develops into a well rounded creative person, ‘sensitive to the emotional, spiritual, cultural and aesthetic dimensions’. This philosophy is epitomised in the campus design itself, with built and open spaces forming a harmonious whole with nature, interspersed with sculptures, installations and other art works.The language Doshi has used is of exposed brick with concrete, emphasising the slabs and the beams to create a natural coarse texture which has weathered over the years and now almost forms part of the land.

The buildings are organised as double storeyed linear masses, open from both sides, letting in plenty of light and ventilation into the studios. In addition, there are inclined skylights on top of the studios, perpetually letting in natural light into the spaces. The studio spaces have bay spaces facing the exterior, creating semi-private spaces which are yet totally open to the exterior – spaces where the individual can be alone with nature even in the environment of a studio.

ARANYA LOW COST HOUSING, INDORE

A rectilinear site of 86 hectares was designed to accommodate over 6500 dwellings, largely for the Weaker Economic Section. This was an integrated approach for ‘a sustainable society’ where the mix of different economic levels of society could stay together.  One of the key elements of Doshi’s design was a hierarchy of open spaces that included small courtyards to be shared by three to four families, larger green spaces for each of the settlement’s six sectors, and a central playing field to serve the entire development. Open spaces and pedestrian pathways intersect and connect the clusters to the central spine. Each user has an array of options available from one room shelters to more spacious houses, and emphasis is mad on a sense of family and neighbourhood while striving to encourage adaptation and personalization according to individual’s needs and resources. Most of the plots were small in and size and the houses were clustered in low rise blocks. The longer side facade is oriented in the north- south axis to reduce the solar radiations on building especially during summers.

The two openings on north and south permit natural light and cross ventilation. Courtyards within houses, cul-de-sacs, public squares and small activity areas are sufficiently shaded by the adjacent buildings. Landscaping and green areas include flowering and shade giving trees with thick green ground cover.

B.V. Doshi has received several international and national awards and honours.

  • Padma Bhushan, Government of India, 2020
  • 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.
  • France’s highest honour for arts the ‘Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters’, 2011.
  • 6th Aga Khan Award for Architecture for Aranya Community Housing, 1993–1995.

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Published by arhimanisharma

Architecture & Interior Designing has been a life changing industry for me, The depth this industry holds cannot be defined in just few words. Hi, I am a practicing Architect, in my course of +5 years of journey, I have worked upon Residential, Commercial, Institutional & Hospitality projects. Done under national & international standards. Writing Blogs gives power to my thoughts, when we see works of any Architect, what does it defines, what was his thoughts behind it, How was the constrcution happen & many more questions which I believe every Architect must search for.

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