Architect B.V.DoshiSubmitted by,

K.JOSHI RAJU

2/5 B.Arch

Personal Information 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.

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.

Most of B.V.Doshi’s projects/buildings are influenced by Le-Corbusier.

He believed in Architecture, for a place and people.

Dr. Balkrishna Doshi, a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects and a Fellow of the Indian Institute of Architects.

Apart from his international fame as an architect, Dr. Doshi is equally known as educator and institution builder.

In recognition of his distinguished contribution as a professional and as an academician, Dr.Doshi has received several International and National and honors.

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

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 1995

Member of the 1998 Award Steering Committee, Aga Khan For Architecture

1996

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 VOIDS)

THE ORDER OF HETEROGENEOUS HOMOGENEITY

MYTH – FORM IMAGERY – PERCEPTION

BUILT – IN FLEXIBILITY AND OPEN – ENDEDNESS OF DESIGN

ENCOURAGING INTERACTION THROUGH BUILTFORM

RESOURCE CONSERVATION

Building style & forms that would best express his ideas: The building profile will have natural light + air +

movement + access elements against the sky to express the cosmic relationship.

The building base will gradually widen towards the ground through platforms, terraces, and steps.

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.

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 local symbolism, context, and associations.

Casting of shadows, breaking of mass, rhythms in the structure, solids, voids, will be the mode of expression.

Sangath, is one of the best examples of the project, which shows his building style – a green enclave of grassy mounds, steps, terraces, water cascades and earth hugging vaults covered in chips of china mosaic to glare and heat.

LIST OF PRESTIGIOUS PROJECTS

1. HUSSAIN- DOSHI GUFA AHMADABAD

2. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FASION TECHNOLOGY

NEW DELHI

3. SANGATH AHMADABAD

4. INDIAN NATIONAL TRUST FOR ART & CULTURAL HERITAGE

NEW DELHI

5. ARANYA LOW COST HOUSING

INDORE

6. INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

BANGLORE

HUSSAIN- DOSHI GUFA

IIM BANGLORE

SANGATH

PROJECT DETAILS: 

Sangath (1979-1981) Thaltej Road, Ahmedabad 380 054

Client: Balkrishna Doshi 

Principal Architect : Balkrishna Doshi Project Assistants : J.Joshipura, S. Patankar, H.M. Siddhpura

Project Engineer : B.S. Jethwa, Y. Patel

Structural Engineer: G.A.Tambe

Site Area: 2346 m2

Total Built-up Area: 585  m2

“SANGATH” means “moving together through participation "and the place is more than just an architectural office.

The site was a quadrilateral looking south over a road towards open country with camels and tribal villagers going in one direction, diesel trucks and new suburbanites passing in the other.

Sketch made by B.V.Doshi

CLIMATE & TOPOGRAPHY:

Ahmadabad-climateThe city is located on the banks of Sabarmati river at 23 degrees N and 72.58 degrees E. The city has hot and humid climate.

There are typically three main seasons – summer, monsoon and winter characterized by different climatic conditions.

Situated at the height of 55m above the sea level, Ahmadabad experiences extreme climate.

There is great difference between the temperatures of days and nights.

Summers start from the month of March and end by June.

Winters are cool and dry and period includes the month of November to February.

Monsoons are from July to September.

Sangath is a fragment of Doshi's private dream: a microcosm of his intentions and obsessions.

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

A warren of interiors derived from the traditional Indian city, it is also influenced by sources as diverse as Louis I. Kahn, Alvar Aalto and Antonio Gaudi.

A work of art stands on its own merits and Sangath possesses that indefinable quality of authenticity.

Even local labourers and passing peasants like to come and sit next to it, enjoying the low mounds of the vaults or the water-jars overgrown with creepers.

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

Section-BB’

Construction of the barrel vault

NIFT

  National Institute of Fashion Technology NIFTCampus                                                      Nr. Gulmohar Park  Hauz Khas ,New Delhi 110 016 Client - National Institute of Fashion Technology Principal Architect - Balkrishna Doshi , M/s Stein Doshi & Bhalla Project Associate - Laxman Patel, S.L.Shah Structural Consultant - Himanshu Parikh, Ahmedabad Electrical Consultant - Sheth Consultants, Ahmedabad Site Area - 11650 m2 Total Built-up Area -  13570   m2 Project Cost -  Rs.  8.5  million (1994)  

PROJECT DETAILS

Fashion  implies  creativity with and time.

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  inward  looking  building;  interactive  corridors,  bridges and  terraces;  kund   like  steps;  and  communicative  facades.

The  front  court,  surrounded  by  the  terraced  academic  block  and  glazed  administrative  wing  becomes  culturally  appropriate  and  climatically  comfortable  outdoor  space. 

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.

Open  as  well  as  glass  screened  bridges  separating  kund  like  court  from  amphitheatre  court,  not  only  remain  as  movement path,  but  also  double  up  as  the  cat  walk  for  the  fashion  shows  which  can  be  viewed  over  from  the  class  rooms,  corridors,  library as  well  as  the  administrative   block.

Fragmentation  of  the  built  mass  and  facade  articulation  illustrate  a  tenuous  yet  experientially  rich  interrelationship  between  various  parts  of  the  ensemble.

Formlessness  and  fragmentation  of  buildings  at NIFT  renders  it  flexible  to  adapt  and  express  different  form  and  elements  of  different  edges, in  effective  response  to  their  specific  functions and  context. 

While,  the  common  set  of  elements  namely  -court,  steps  and  corridors  integrate  these parts  into  unified  whole.