Balkrishna Doshi No More: A Look Back at His Glittering Career as a Legend in Architecture
Balkrishna Doshi, a renowned architect, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy of his illustrious work in the world of architecture.
Balkrishna Doshi, a renowned Indian architect, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 95. He left behind a substantial legacy of his legendary work in the architectural field. According to Britannica, Balkrishna Doshi, also referred to by the abbreviation BV Doshi, was born on August 26, 1927, in the Indian city of Pune.
Doshi gained notoriety for his architectural work. He worked on more than 100 significant projects throughout the course of his seven-decade career, the most of which were for educational institutions in India such schools, art galleries, and libraries. Doshi, a Pritzker Prize winner, gained his understanding and proficiency of buildings and structures through his experience working with Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier and American architect Louis Kahn.
Some of Doshi’s buildings that were constructed in India also provided shelter and safety to many people fleeing extreme weather as well as to others who merely wanted to host public meetings.
Doshi got a sneak preview of his future in architecture when he was a young boy by witnessing his grandfather run a furniture business. He enrolled in Mumbai’s Sir J.J. School of Architecture in 1947 in order to give his dreams wings. Three years later, he took a plane to London, the capital of the United Kingdom, where he met Le Corbusier. Later, he began working in the Corbusier studio in Paris, the capital of France.
In 2022, Doshi was awarded the Royal Gold Medal.
Doshi was honoured with the Royal Gold Medal earlier in 2022, one of the most prestigious honours awarded to people who have made significant contributions to architecture. Simon Alford, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), personally delivered the prize to Doshi at his residence in Ahmedabad.
“The Queen of England has awarded me the Royal Gold Medal, and I am both pleasantly pleased and incredibly humbled by this. What a wonderful honour! The news of this honour reminded me of the period I spent working with Le Corbusier in 1953, just after he had learned that he had won the Royal Gold Medal. I still clearly remember how happy he was to receive this honour, Doshi had said when he accepted the prize.