Ar. BALKRISHNA VITHALDAS DOSHI

Ar. BALKRISHNA VITHALDAS DOSHI

SEMINAR REPORTSubmitted by : Vishnu Prakash l Yaseen Sulaiman l Sivaprasad l SreelalAr. BALKRISHNA VITHALDAS DOSHI Architect

Urbanist Educator

Builds in harmony with the climate, culture and tradition of IndiaBridged the gap between modern architecture and the age old lessons of Indias peasant village and ancient village

LIFE

HISTORY1927 Doshi was born in Pune, IndiaDid his bachelors from J. J. School of Art, Bombay19501951-54worked with Le Corbusier as senior designer in Paris1956private practice in Vastu-Shilpa, Ahmedabad1958A fellow at the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts.1962established the Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for Environmental DesignCHRONOLOGY OF WORKS 1957- 60ATIRA AND PRL LOW-COSTHOUSING, AHEMADABAD

1957 - 62L.D INSTITUTE OF INDOLOGY, AHEMADABAD

1959 - 61ARCHITECTS OWN HOUSEAHEMADABAD

1962-74Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

19721964 - 69TOWNSHIP, GUJARAT STATEFERTILISERS CORPORATION,BARODA

1968 - 71TOWNSHIP, ELECTRONICS CORPORATION OF INDIA LTD.HYDERABAD

1969 76HOUSING TYPESKOTA, KALOL, AHMEDABAD

1983 - 86LOW COST HOUSING INDORE

1979-80Centre for Environment and Planning Technology (CEPT)Ahmedabad

1972Sangath, BV Doshi's office, Ahmedabad

1989National Institute of Fashion Design, Delhi

1980 - 84GANDI LABOUR INSTITUTEAHMEDABAD

1990Amdavad ni GufaAhmedabad

PRINCIPLESMythical SenseDoshi belief in the Mythical Sense of space often evident in traditional architecture which is not simply confined to open or closed areas. According to him space can be modified according to the desire of the perceiver and is never staticVaastu-Purusha Mandala

The structural and formal systems that Doshi has adopted led him to assimilate the 2nd principle of Vaastu-Purusha Mandala to ensure minimum standards of health and hygiene in each project . Vaastu (environment), Purusha (energy) and Mandala (astrology) are combined in the diagram that has evolved to assist builders in determining proper orientation. North relates to the lord of wealth, south relates to the lord f death , east to the lord of light (the rising sun), and west to the lord of wind. The centre is attributed to the lord of the Cosmos .

Transformation of Energy. Transformation of Energy between the building and people using the space for functional use. The Energy takes place between the walls, columns and space of the building. The natural energy produces through sun radiations or natural elements, surroundings, species around it etc. Doshi followed it in his architecture by providing openness in buildings through colonnades, pergolas, porticos, sky lights etc. for e.g.- IIM, Bangalore.

sun radiationsWind natural elementssurroundingsspecies around it

Human InstitutionsDoshi has persisted a deep belief in importance of Human Institutions, just as Louis-i-Kahn did before him. This belief, is amplified by his own deep cultural experience and popular evolution of new institutions. The name of his office itself, the Vaastu-Shilpa foundation, is a ringing affirmation of Doshis faith in the dialogue between people and architecture of which he speaks and powers of dialogue to bring about old institutions and create new ones

flexible rather than rigid approach to the structureA more specific principle is to follow flexible rather than rigid approach to the structure. This is how transformation of space from the mere static container ; to a place where people actually feel a psychic interchange is best achieved. Here Doshi refers to the multiple mixed structural systems, of the type found in Madurai temple and city of Fatehpur Sikri.

The idea of flexibility leads him to a principle, of incorporating symbolism. He believes that it can only be accommodated by mixture of structural systems. Symbolically charged space must be designed as receptacle for human activity.symbolismmixture of structural systemsSymbolically charged spacereceptacle for human activitAmorphous rather than finite formsDoshi also advocates Amorphous rather than finite forms ; used with multiple structural systems so that experience with them may be loose meandering and multiple. For e.g.- Aranya low cost housing, Indore.

As an eighth and final principle, doshi seeks Timelessness in his architecture much as Louis khan did when describing his quality in historical precedents as' open endednessTimelessness

SANGATH, ARCHITECTS STUDIO

AHMEDABAD (1979-81)

TotalAn Ensemble of Vaulted and flat roofed buildings at different height

Vaulted roof reduced the heating up of building

STRUCTURAL SYSTEM: POST AND BEAMS WITH REINFORCED CONCRETE SLABS, FERRO CONCRETE VAULTS, BRICK MASONRY WALLS

Human CirculationStudio Multi functional spaceSecretaries OfficeEngineers OfficeLibraryFore CourtPondAmphitheatreEntrance courtReceptionWorkshopConference roomToiletsArchitects officeSubterranean meeting room

Floor Space 473 M2Total Land Area 2425 M2Climate Hot & Dry

FORECOURTPONDAMPHITHEATREENTRANCE COURTRECEPTIONWORKSHOPCONFERENCETOILETSStudio

The roof finishing is done by China Brocken tile Mosaic. which reflects the suns radiation(reduce the heating up of building), use of waste material

This building is inspired by temple architecture, shikhara like vaults, high plinth

Three means of allowing light in to the interiors

SPLIT LEVEL POOLSWATER CASCADEHelps to reduce the heating up of buildingvegetation

Some building sunken below ground levelStudios Are at double height, surmounted by two vaultsTwo units facing the entrance is at triple heightDouble height helps to reduce the heating up of building by hot air rises up and cool air falls down, also brings more natural light, cross ventilation.Space sunken also helps to be cool during summer and enough warmth during summer by the principle earth a non conductor of heat

Some building sunken below ground level

Studios Are at double height, surmounted by two vaults

Two units facing the entrance is at triple height

Buildings sunken below ground level and Double height helps to reduce the heating up of building by cross ventilation, non thermal conductivity of earthSECTIONSSection AASection BB

AABB

ELEVATIONSSouth Elevation West Elevation

Sketch comparing insulation of roof to a turban

Here Doshi refers to the multiple mixed structural systems, of the type found in Madurai temple and city of Fatehpur Sikri.

shikhara like vaultsAmdavad ni Gufa Ahmedabad (1992 -95)

Its a mixed work by B.V Doshi and Indian artist M.F Husain.Its a art gallery for exhibiting artists workDoshi took stupa as conceptThe difference between stupa and Gufa is 25mm thin Ferro cement shell that has bee used as the structure of Doshis museum, as well as the slopingColum that has been used internally Site Area- 1000 sq.mt.Built up Area- 280 sq.mta combination of high technology and traditional techniques that also describes the essential timelessness of technology itself

Natural Light is available through the day, Creating different mood from am to pm

PLANThe structure is specifically oriented to let in the maximum amount of heat & light to give the interior a golden glow

This structure is in form of skeletal skin & wire mesh sandwiched on each side by layers of cement. The concrete is then covered with a compacted layer of vermiculite followed by mosaic pieces of broken china.White tiles reflects the sun rays, helps to keep the interior cool.

The central hall is supported by 2 rows of columns which divide the interior in to a wider centre aisle & 2 side aisle.The columns have octagonal shafts wider at base & tapered at capital.The ribs, which spans from column line to column line, create the vaulted roof of cave.The snouts seems as skylights to throw light insideVIEWS OF GUFA