Architect B.V.

Doshi
Submitted 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 1991

the
Indian Institute of Architects
Special Award for Excellence in Architecture by Journal of 1992
the
Indian Institute of Architects
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 1995
International
Charter on the Education of Architects- sponsored by
International Union of Architects in association with
UNESCO
Aga Khan Award for Architecture 1995
Member of the 1998 Award Steering Committee, Aga Khan 1996
For Architecture
 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 NEW DELHI

FASION TECHNOLOGY
3. SANGATH AHMADABAD

4. INDIAN NATIONAL TRUST NEW DELHI

FOR ART & CULTURAL
HERITAGE
5. ARANYA LOW COST HOUSINGINDORE

6. INDIAN INSTITUTE OF BANGLORE

MANAGEMENT
 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-climate
The 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 studios
1. Forecourt
2. Pond
3. Amphitheatre
4. Entrance court
5. Reception
6. Workshops
7. Conference
8. Toilets
9. Architects office
10. Subterranean
meeting room
11. Engineers
12. Design studio
13. Library
14. Studio
 Section-BB’

Construction of the
barrel vault
NIFT
PROJECT DETAILS

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)
 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.