The Royal Gold Medal is approved personally by Queen Elizabeth II and is given to a person or group of people who have had a significant influence on the advancement of architecture. Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi would receive the Royal Gold Medal 2022, one of the world’s highest architectural honors, announced by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). RIBA said on Thursday that 94-year-old Doshi had influenced the direction of architecture in India and its adjacent regions through both his practice and his teaching. Given in recognition of a lifetime’s work, the Royal Gold Medal was approved by Queen Elizabeth II.
In the words of Balkrishna: I am pleasantly surprised and deeply humbled to receive the Royal Gold Medal from the Queen of England. “What a great honor!” said Doshi, hearing about the news. He said he was truly overwhelmed to receive this award. He would like to express his heartfelt gratitude to his wife, daughters, and, most importantly, his team members and collaborators at Sangath. From the source, RIBA said his buildings combine pioneering modernism with vernacular, informed by a deep appreciation of the traditions of India’s architecture, climate, local culture, and craft.
His projects include administrative and cultural facilities, housing developments, and residential buildings. He is now internationally known for his visionary urban planning and social housing projects and his work in education, both in India and as a visiting professor at universities worldwide. RIBA President Simon Allford said: “it was an honor and a pleasure to chair the committee in selecting Balkrishna Doshi as the 2022 Royal Gold Medallist. He has influenced generations of architects through his delightfully purposeful architecture.
Influenced by his time spent in the office of Le Corbusier, his work nevertheless is that of an original and independent thinker able to undo, redo and evolve.” He added in the twentieth century, when technology facilitated many architects to build independently of local climate and tradition, Balkrishna remained closely connected with his hinterland: its environment, new technologies, and old and crafts. Balkrishna Doshi’s extraordinary contribution to architecture, the art of construction, and urban design practice; urban design practice establish him as the most deserving recipient of this award.
He was born in 1927 in Pune to an extended family of furniture makers; Balkrishna studied at the JJ School of Architecture, Bombay, before starting his career for four years with Le Corbusier as Senior Designer (1951-54) in Paris and four more years in India to supervise projects in Ahmedabad. He worked with Louis Kahn as an associate to build the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and they continued collaborating for over a decade. He founded his practice in Vastushilpa in1956 with two architects. The course invites dialogue, and its philosophy of pro-active participation even applies to their office space which has an open door, inviting passers-by to drop in.
Doshi’s critical projects in Ahmedabad include Shreyas Comprehensive School Campus (1958-63); Atira Guest House low-cost housing (1958); The Institute of Indology (1962) building rare house documents; Ahmedabad School of Architecture renamed CEPT University in 2002, which focused on creating spaces that promoted collaborative learning; Tagore Hall & Memorial Theatre (1967); a 700 seat Brutalist auditorium. Besides, he has also designed the Indian Institute of Management in Banglore (1977-92); Sangath(1981), the studio for his architecture practice, Vastu Shilpa; Kanoria Center for Arts (1984), an arts and creative hub; and Aranya Low-Cost Housing(1989), Indore.
This news was curated by Prittle Prattle News with the help of information provided by PTI.
Image Courtesy: Balkrishna Doshi
