Soumendra Roy

.

Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi was born in Pune on 26th of August 1927.

He belongs to that generation which came of age just after Independence, and which was confronted with

the massive tasks of constructing a new nation. Doshi’s family had been in the furniture business for

two generations. In 1947, he enrolled himself in JJ college of

architecture, Bombay. After initial study in Bombay, he worked with Le

Corbusier in Paris (1951-1954) as senior designer. In 1955 he returned to India to supervise Le

Corbusier’s projects in Ahmadabad and Chandigarh.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Soumendra Roy

Doshi established the Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for Studies and Research in Environmental Design in 1955, known for

pioneering work in low-cost housing and city planning.

He believed in Architecture, for a place and people.

Apart from his international fame as an architect, Dr. Doshi is equally known as

educator and institution builder.Doshi’s architecture is an eclectic mix

of style and influences that make it unique.

Soumendra Roy

Hon. Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

1990

Project Award for Excellence in Architecture by Journal of the Indian Institute of Architects

1991

Special Award for Excellence in Architecture by Journal of the Indian Institute of Architects

1992

Architect of the Year Award instituted by J K Cements 1992

Great Master’s Award instituted by J K Cements 1994

Member, International Committee for preparing International Charter on the Education of Architects- sponsored by International Union of Architects in association with

UNESCO

1995

Soumendra Roy

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 1995

Member of the 1998 Award Steering Committee,

Aga Khan For Architecture 1998

Soumendra Roy

Doshi’s Architecture revolves around six key principles of design which find wide ranging resolutions appropriate to the project in context to ‘the

place’ and ‘the people’.

ARCHITECTURE OF THE UNBUILT(ENERGIZING ARCHITECTURE OF THE UNBUILT(ENERGIZING VOIDS).VOIDS).

THE ORDER OF HETEROGENEOUS THE ORDER OF HETEROGENEOUS HOMOGENEITY.HOMOGENEITY.

Soumendra Roy

MYTH – FORM IMAGERY – PERCEPTION.MYTH – FORM IMAGERY – PERCEPTION.BUILT – IN FLEXIBILITY AND OPEN – BUILT – IN FLEXIBILITY AND OPEN –

ENDEDNESS OF DESIGN.ENDEDNESS OF DESIGN.

ENCOURAGING INTERACTION THROUGH ENCOURAGING INTERACTION THROUGH BUILTFORM.BUILTFORM.

RESOURCE CONSERVATION.RESOURCE CONSERVATION.

Soumendra Roy

The building profile will have natural light + air + movement + access

elements .

The building base will gradually widen towards

the ground through platforms, terraces, and steps.

BUILDING STYLE & FORMS THAT WOULD BEST EXPRESS HIS IDEAS:

Soumendra Roy

The building mass will integrate roof, rainwater, cascades, water bodies,

natural landscapes, gardens, foliage.

The external finish of the

building will express one homogenous mass but will have adequate details/ textures/

surface modulations.

The main arrival to the building will be at a higher or raised level- with

provision for a lower entry to express duality.

Soumendra Roy

Not all movements within the building will be symmetrical but will shift axis to give unexpected experiences and provide ambiguous / dual

impressions…”

And finally Aesthetic considerations will take into account

1- local symbolism2- context

3-associations. Casting of shadows, breaking of mass, rhythms in the

structure, solids, voids, will be the mode of expression.

Soumendra Roy

LIST OF PRESTIGIOUS PROJECTSSite location Country

Arayna community housing.

Indore India

Centre of environmental planning and technology.

Ahmedabad India

Husain-doshi gufa art gallery.

Ahmedabad India

Indian institute of managment

Bangalore India

Institute of indology Ahmedabad India

National Institute of Fashion Technology

New Delhi India

Sangath Ahmedabad India

Udayan - The Condoville Kolkata India

year

1989

1968

1993

1963

20th century

1994

1980s

1997 Soumendra Roy

Husain-doshi gufa art gallery.

Soumendra Roy

Indian institute of management

Institute of indologySoumendra Roy

National Institute of Fashion Technology

Sangath

SANGATH

Soumendra Roy

Client: Balkrishna Doshi 

Location:Ahmedabad, India .

Date : 1980.

Building type : commercial.

Building Usage :office building/complex

Site Area: 2346 m2

Total Built-up Area: 585  m2

PROJECT DETAILS: 

SANGATH:

Soumendra Roy

Inspired by the earth-hugging forms of the Indian vernacular, it also draws upon the vault suggestions

of Le Corbusier.

Soumendra Roy

Plan of studios1. Forecourt2. Pond3. Amphitheatre4. Entrance court5. Reception 6. Workshops7. Conference8. Toilets9. Architects office10. Subterranean meeting room11. Engineers12. Design studio13. Library14. Studio

Soumendra Roy

Section-BB’

Construction of the barrel vault

Soumendra Roy

NIFT

Soumendra Roy

  National Institute of Fashion Technology

  location:New Delhi

Architect/Planner :Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi

Date:1994.

Building type :educational .

Building usage:university.

Site Area :11650 m2 .

Total Built-up Area :  13570   m2

PROJECT DETAILS

Soumendra Roy

Soumendra Roy

Soumendra Roy

In  architectural  terms  a  spatial  modulation  of continues  movement  in  time  and  space much as the  ambiance  of  an  Indian  bazaar where  the

drama  of  day  today  life  unfolds.

The  National  Institute  of  Fashion  Technology  atNew Delhi,  recreates  an  inwardly  bazaar,

livened up by designed  displays  and  movements of  students  as  well  as  visitors  through  entire \

space. 

Consisting  of  academic,  administrative  and  residential  activities,  the  campus  reinterprets  the

  traditional  town  square  through  its 

  looking  building;  interactive  corridors,  bridges 

and  terraces;  kund   like  steps;  and  communicative  facades.

Soumendra Roy

Animated  by  a  series  of  high  and  low  platforms,  soft  and  hard  landscaping,  a  water  channel  and  a  mirror  like  wall  back  drop,  the 

space  multiplies  as  entrance  court,  central  green,  display  platform,  informal  theatre  and  a 

visual  focus.

Brigde = high visual permeability

Soumendra Roy

Location: Indore, India.

Date:1989.

Building Types: residential, 

urban design and development.

Building Usage: housing development community.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture Winner.

Arnaya Housing

Soumendra Roy

DESIGN FEATURE

Aranya township is an organic growth of systematically interrelated parts in a well defined hierarchy of built form & open

space within the network of infrastructural service.

Informal planned growth and house form were responsive to the needs of and aspiration

of the people.

Soumendra Roy

Before designing Doshi make detailed study of selected settlement of Indora city undertaken to understand how urban poor

live & what their housing priorities & needs.

Unsolved problem was the utility services, and inadequate infrastructure which

otherwise affect healthy environment .

Soumendra Roy

http://ankitdarda.blogspot.com/2008/12/arc-balkrishna-vdoshi.html

http://unitec.researchbank.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10652/1568/Kaza%20-%20Otla.pdf?

sequence=1

http://www.akdn.org/architecture/pdf/1242_Ind.pzf

http://identityhousing.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/balkrishna-doshi-atira-low-cost-

housing-ahmedabad-1957-1960/.

REFERENCES:

Soumendra Roy