Over the years Doshi has created architecture that relies on a sensitive adoption and refinement of modern architecture within an Indian context. Check for more presentations at - www.archistudent.net

1. THEORY OF
DESIGN

2. NAME BALKRISHNA
VITHALDAS DOSHI
NATIONALITY INDIAN
DATE OF BIRTH AUGUST 26, 1927
PLACE OF BIRTH PUNE, INDIA
PROFESSION ARCHITECT, EDUCATOR
AND ACADEMECIAN
OVER THE YEARS DOSHI HAS CREATED
ARCHITECTURE THAT RELIES ON A SENSITIVE
ADOPTION AND REFINEMENT OF MODERN
ARCHITECTURE WITHIN AN INDIAN CONTEXT. THE
RELEVANCY OF HIS ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN
CONCERNS MAKE HIM UNIQUE AS BOTH A THINKER
AND TEACHER. ARCHITECTURAL SCALE AND
MASSING, AS WELL AS A CLEAR SENSE OF SPACE
AND COMMUNITY MARK MOST OF HIS WORK.
DOSHI'S ARCHITECTURE PROVIDES ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT MODELS FOR MODERN INDIAN
ARCHITECTURE.
•B.V DOSHI, COMPLETED HIS STUDIES AT J. J. SCHOOL
OF ART, BOMBAY IN 1950
•HE BECAME A SENIOR DESIGNER ON LE CORBUSIER’S
PROJECTS IN AHMEDABAD AND CHANDIGARH.
•IN 1956 HE ESTABLISHED A PRIVATE PRACTICE IN
VASTU-SHILPA, AHMEDABAD AND IN 1962 HE
ESTABLISHED THE VASTU-SHILPA FOUNDATION FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.
•HE HAS WORKED IN CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
PLANNING AND TECHNOLOGY (CEPT, AHMEDABAD) AND
KANORIA CENTRE FOR ARTS, AHMEDABAD. HE WAS THE
FOUNDER MEMBER OF VISUAL ARTS CENTRE,
AHMEDABAD

3.  THE BUILDING PROFILE WILL HAVE NATURAL LIGHT, AIR MOVEMENT AND
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 AND FOLIAGE
 THE EXTERNAL FINISH OF THE BUILDING WILL EXPRESS ONE HOMOGENOUS
MASS BUT WILL HAVE ADEQUATE DETAILS, TEXTURES AND SURFACE
MODULATIONS
 THE MAIN ARRIVAL TO THE BUILDING WILL BE AT A HIGHER OR A 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 OR DUAL IMPRESSIONS…”
 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

4. DOSHI’S WORK IS COMPELLING
MIXTURE OF MODERN AND THE
TRADITONAL, CONTAINING THE
MOST FUNDAMENTAL ASPECT OF
EACH, WITHOUT BEING
DEFLECTED BY SUPERNATURAL
FORMS.
VIEW OF SCHOOL OF
ARCHITECTURE
OUTDOOR ROOMS IN THE
COOLER AIR
AN OPEN PLACE WITH HARDLY ANY
DOOR
VIEW OF HUSAIN –DOSHI GUFA

5. GENERAL PHILOSHOPHY TOWARDS DESIGN
•FLEXIBLE RATHER THAN RIGID APPROCH TO THE STRUCTURE
•TIMELESSNESS IN HIS ARCHITECTURE .
•MYTHICAL SENSE –MOVING BEYOND HISTORICAL EXAMPLES OF HIS OWN REGION
•TRANSFORMATION BETWEEN THE BUILDING AND THE PEOPLE THAT TRANSCENDS THE FUNCTIONAL USE.
•DOSHI HAS PRESISTED A DEEP BELIF IN IMPORTANT OF HUMAN INSTITUTIONS.
•THE NOTATION OF FLEXIBILITY AND SYMBOLISM.
•DOSHI MADE AN INTENSIVE AND SUSTAINED STUDY OF TRADITIONAL INDIAN PHILOSOPHY AND ANCIENT
ARCHITECTURAL TEXTS, WHILE MAINTAINING A DEEP COMMITMENT TO MODERNISM.
•THE ARCHITECTONIC SCALE AND MASSING(VAULTING), THE CLEAR SENSE OF SPACE AND AN ATTRACTION
TOWARDS MATERIALS REMAIN THEMATICALLY STRONG THROUGHOUTS HIS WORKS.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTS
•1992 - SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ARCHITECTURE BY JOURNAL OF THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF
ARCHITECTS
• 1995 - AGA KHAN AWARD FOR ARCHITECTURE
• MEMBER OF THE 1998 AWARD STEERING COMMITTEE, AGA KHAN FOR ARCHITECTURE
1985-59 - INTERNATIONAL FELLOW OF THE GRAHAM FOUNDATION FOR ADVANCED STUDIES IN THE FINE
ARTS, CHICAGO, U.S.A.
• 1971 - HON. FELLOW, AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS, U.S.A.
• 1988 - CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE AWARD BY THE ILLINOIS COUNCIL/ AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF
ARCHITECTS AND ARCHITECTURAL RECORD, U.S.A.
• 1988 - GREAT GOLD MEDAL FOR ARCHITECTURE, ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE, PARIS
• 1988 - GOLD MEDAL INSTITUTED BY INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS

6.  INSTITUTE OF INDOLOGY AHMEDABAD(1957-
62)
 SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AHMEDABAD 1968
 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT
BANGALORE (1977-85)
 MADHYA PRADESH ELECTRICITY BOARD
JABALPUR (1979-89)
 SANGATH AHMEDABAD (1979-89)
 ARANYA LOW-COST HOUSING INDORE (1983-
86)
 HUSAIN-DOSHI GUFFA (1992-95)
 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FASHION
TECHNOLOGY NEW DELHI (1997)
 GANDHI LABOUR INSTITUTE
VIEW OF GANDHI LABOUR INSTITUTE
VIEW OF MADHYA PRADESH ELECTRICITY BOARD
VIEW OF IIM BANGLORE
VIEW OF GANDHI LABOUR INSTITUTE

7.  THE ARANYA LOW COST HOUSING BEARS ON THE PROBLEMS OF
HOUSING THE POOR AND IMPROVING THE SOCIAL HARMONY AT A
TIME OF RISING SOCIAL STRIFE
 THE PROJECT PROMOTES THE SOCIAL GOALS BY CREATING
COMMON SPACES WHERE HINDUS, MUSLIMS, JAINS AND OTHER
NEIGHBOURHOODS CAN MIX. THE PROJECT PROMOTES CO
OPERATION, NEIGHBOURLINESS, TOLERANCE AND COHESIVE
SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS.
 THE HOUSING SCHEME CONSISTED OF 6500 PLOTS DIVIDED INTO 11
TYPES DEPENDING ON INCOME LEVEL AND PLOT SIZES.
 THE SMALLEST PLOT BELONGED TO THE ECONOMICALLY WEAKER
SECTION; WAS 35 SQ M IN AREA. THEY ACCOUNTED FOR 65% OF
ALL THE PLOTS. THE HIGHEST PLOT SIZE WAS 613 SQ M MEANT
FOR THE HIG GROUP.
 THE MASTER PLAN WAS DIVIDED INTO SIX SECTORS WITH A
CENTRAL SPINE AREA OF COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL LAND
USE.
 THE TOWN CENTRE IN THE MIDDLE COMPRISED OF FOUR
CLUSTERS OF SHOPPING, RESIDENTIAL AND OFFICE COMPLEXES.
NET AREA 85 HECTARES
RESIDENTIAL 58%
ROADS 23.5%
OPEN SPACES 8.15%
COMMERCIAL
FACILITIES
6.73%
TYPE OF INCOME GROUP PERCENTAGE LOCATION
ECONOMICALLY WEAKER
SECTION(EWS)
65 MIDDLE OF SIX SECTORS
LOW INCOME GROUP(LIG) 11 MIDDLE OF SIX SECTORS
MIDDLE INCOME GROUP 14 NORTH WESTERN PERIPHERY AND
SOUTHERN PERIPHERY.
HIGH INCOME GROUP 9 ALONG THE PERIPHERY OF THE
NATIONAL HIGHWAY AND PART OF THE
SOUTH EAST BORDER OF THE ARTERIAL
ROAD IN THE SOUTH

8.  A HOUSE PLAN INCLUDED TWO ROOMS AND A LIVING AREA
FOLLOWED BY A KITCHEN AND A LAVATORY WAS
CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN THE FRONT EXTENSION AND THE
MULTI USE COURTYARD AT THE BACK. MOST HOUSES WERE
PROVIDED WITH AN ADDITIONAL ACCESS FROM THE BACK
WHICH ALLOWED KEEPING ANIMALS OR A VEHICLE.
 TEN HOUSES FORMED A CLUSTER THAT OPENED INTO A
STREET. THE COURTYARD AT THE BACK OPENED INTO THE
OPEN SPACE OF THE CLUSTER AND WAS USED AS A PLAY
AREA AND SERVICE AREA. TREES AND MULTI USE PLATFORM
WAS ADDED.
 OPEN SPACES INTERLINKED THE CENTRAL SPINE AND
FORMED A TRIANGULAR SPACE INCORPORATING A
COMMUNITY FUNCTION.
 THE PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY INTERSECTED THIS GREEN
STRIP WITH THREE CONNECTING SQUARES
 A CONVENTIONAL SEWAGE SYSTEM WAS DEVELOPED FOR
THIS TOWNSHIP KEEPING IN VIEW THE GENERAL CONTOUR
OF AVAILABLE GROUND SLOPE AND THE ROAD NETWORK
 THE ROAD NETWORK ALLOWED FOR SMOOTH
GRAVITATIONAL FLOW OF WATER. THREE RESERVOIRS,
EACH SERVING TWO SECTORS WERE LOCATED AT HIGHER
POINTS OF THE TWO SECTORS AND WERE
INTERCONNECTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE TWO COULD
SERVE THE ENTIRE POPULATION.
 MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY – CONVENTIONAL AND
LOCALLY AVAILABLE BUILDING MATERIALS AND
CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES WERE ADOPTED. THE
STRUCTURES WERE CONSTRUCTED WITH LOAD BEARING
BRICK WALLS. WALLS WERE PLASTERED AND PAINTED.
FLOORS WERE OF CEMENT CONCRETE.
 THE DOORS, WINDOWS AND GRILLS WERE MADE ON SITE BY
FORM VARIATIONS
VARIABLE FACADES WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY

9. CLUSTER AND STREET VIEW OPEN SPACE TYPOLOGY
FORM VARIATIONS

10.  SANGATH MEANS’MOVING TOGETHER THROUGH
PARTICIPATION’. SANGATH IS ALIVE, WELL AND GROWING.
 AS AN ARCHITECT’S OFFICE, IT HAS CREATED AN IMAGINATIVE,
SIMPLE , FRIENDLY ,RELAXED AND SUBDUED PHYSICAL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT MOST CONDUCIVE FOR
CREATIVE THINKING AND DEVELOPMENT OF IDEAS.
 BUILDING COMPLEX CALLED SANGATH HAS TOTAL FLOOR
AREA OF 473 SQUARE METRES AND LOCATED ON A FLAT 2425
SQUARE METRE SITE ON THE FRINGE OF AHMEDABAD IN
INDIA.
 THE BUILDING IS LARGLY BURRIED UNDER THE GROUND TO
USE THE EARTH MASSES FOR NATURAL INSULATIONS.
 STORAGE WALLS- EXTERNAL WALL OF THE BUILDING IS
NEARLY A METRE DEEP BUT HAVE BEEN HOLLOWED OUT AS
ALCOVES TO PROVIDE STORAGE THAT BECOMES AN
INSULATIVE WALLS WITH EFFICENCY OF SPACE.
 VAULTED FORM USED AT FIRST MINIMALLY WAS LATER
DEVELOPED AN EXTENSIVELY USED TO RELATE TO INDIAN
SENSIBILITIES. THE VAULTED ROOF SEPARATED BY LOWER ,
FLAT SURFACES WERE DESIGNED TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF
NATURAL LIGHT .
 THE POOLS WERE DEVELOPED AS A NATURAL COOLING
SYSTEM.
 MOSAIC TILES, PURCHASED AS WASTE MATERIAL, WERE USED
SANGATH
– LIVE,
WELL AND
GROWING
LANDSCAPE
D STEPS
TOWARDS
ENTRANCE
SPACES
POOLS
DEVELOPED
AS NATURAL
COOLING
SYSTEM

11.  THE VENTILATING WINDOW AT UPPER VOLUME RELEASES THE
ACCUMULATED HOT AIR THROUGH PRESSURE DIFFERENCE.
 THE TOP FINISH OF CHINA MOSIACGLAZED TILES FURTHER
ENHANCES INSULATION BY BEING WHITE AND GLOSSY TO
REFLECT SUN AND BEING OF CLAY TO RETARD
HEATTRANSMISSION
 THE STRUCTURAL SYSTEM IS POST AND BEAM WITH
REINFORCED CONCRETE SLABS.
 THE FERRO CONCRETE CAVITY VAULTS WITH HIGH INSULATION
VALUES ARE USED ON UPPER FLOORS.
 FACADES ARE EITHER OF MOSAIC TILES OR CEMENT PLASTER.
 INTERIORS ARE CHARACTERISED BY THE BUILDING’S VARIOUS
SHAPES AND FORMS.
 LIGHT ENTERS FROM DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. DECORATION IS
BASED ON CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS WITH EXPOSER OF
SHUTTERING IMPRESSIONS ON CONCRETE CEILING
CONTRASTED TO SMOOTH RED OXIDE CEMENT FLOOR
 ALL MATERIALS AND THE 60% SKILLED LABOUR WERE OF LOCAL
ORIGIN.
 THE EXTERNAL FINISHES OF VAULTS WERE RECYCLED BROCKEN
GLAZED WHITE TILES PROVIDED ADDITIONAL FUNCTION OF HEAT
REFLECTION.
 INTERNALLY SURFACES ARE EITHER PLASTERED OR LEFT IN
THEIR NATURAL OFF FORM CONCRETE STATE.
NATURAL
LIGHT
PATTERNS
WITHIN
THE
INTERIOR
SPACES
RECYCLED
GLAZED
MOSAIC TILE
AND CHIPS
TERRACED
COURT
LEADING TO
MAIN
ENTRANCE
AREAS

12. GROUND FLOOR PLAN
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
DESIGN
STUDOIS WITH
SMOOTH
FLOORS AND
ROUGH
TEXTURED
CEILING
LANDSCAPED
COURTYARDS
AT THE
ENTRANCE
WELL FURNISHED AND WELL LIT
INTERIORS
DESIGN STUDIO
DOSHIS ROOM
PRINTING
LIBRARY
CONFERENCE
VASTU SHILPA
FOUNDATION
GUEST HOUSE

13. WEST ELEVATION
SOUTH ELEVATION
SECTION THROUGH BUILDING
LOUNGE CONFERENCE

14.  IT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN DOSHI AND M.F. HUSAIN
FOR THE EXHIBITION OF ARTIST’S WORK.
 THE REFRENCE FOR THE GUFA ARE ELEMENTAL AND PRIMEVAL; IT
IMERGED FROM THE BUDDHIST STUPA AND KARLI AND AJANTA
 STUPA AS THE PRIMARY REFRANCE, SIGNIFIES BOTH TOMB OF BUDDHA
AND THE SYMBOL OF PURSUIT.
 STUPA FORMALLY SIGNIFIES AND IMPLIES THE ENLIGHTENING NATURE
OF KNOWLEDGE.
 25 MILLIMETRE THIN FERROCEMENT CAVES.SHELL THAT HAS BEEN
USED AS THE STRUCTURE OF DOSHI’S MUSEUM.
 SLOPING COLUMN SUPPORT MUSEUM INTERNALLY.
 THE HUSSAIN DOSHI GUFA IN AHMEDABAD IS LOCATED ON A CAMPUS OF
THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND TECHNOLOGY.
 THE PLAN IS EVOLVED FROM THE INTERSECTING CIRCLES AND ELLIPSE.
FRONT VIEW
HUSAIN AND AR B. V. DOSHI

15. • SITE AREA: 1000 M2
• BUILT-UP AREA: 280M2
• PROJECT COST: RS 1.8 MILLION.
•HUSAIN-DOSHI GUFA IS AN UNDERGROUND ART
GALLERY,EXHIBITING
•THE SPACES FORMED WITHIN ARE CONTNIOUS AND
AMORPHOUS
• THROUGH INCLINED PLANES OF DOMES,
CURVILINEAR PLANES OF VAULTS, UNDULATING
FLOORS AND NON RECTILINEAR LEANING COLUMNS
• THE STRUCTURE IS IN THE FORM OF SKELETON
SKIN AND WIRE- MESH,SANDWICHED ON EACH SIDE
BY LAYERS OF CEMENT AND HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT
WITH SIMPLE HAND TOOLS BY UNSKILLED WORKERS.
•PROJECTING SKYLIGHTS AND SKIN CUT-OUT NOT
ONLY ILLUMINATE THE SPACES WITHIN BUT CREATE
MYTHIC SHAFTS AND SPOTS OF LIGHT REMINISCENT
OF THE GALAXY AND STARS.
•BURIED SPACES,EARTH MOUNDS,RAISED VOLUMES
AND CHINA MOSAIC FINISH RENDERS THE
ARCHITECTURE ENERGY CONSCIOUS,CUTTING
DOWN IT’S ENERGY INTAKE,IN AN OTHERWISE HARSH
HOT DRY CLIMATE.
EXTERIOR DETAIL OF
WIRE
FRAME.
EXTERIOR VIEWS
SHOWING DOMICAL
CAVES
INTERIOR VIEWS OF THE HUSSAIN DOSHI GUFA
SHOWING SUPPORTIVE COLUMNS, LIGHT SHAFT AND
SCULPTURES OF GUFA

16. SITE PLAN OF HUSAIN-DOSHI
SECTION OF HUSAIN-DOSHI GUFA
THE USE OF COATINGSAS WELL AS DEPRESSING THE
GALLERY MORE THAN A METRE INTO THE GROUND IS AN
EFFECTIVE INSULATING STRATEGY AND THE WHITE TILES
ALSO REFLECT THE SUN RAYS HELPING TO KEEP THE
INTERIORS COOL.
•THE PROTRUBANCES FINALLY EMERGED AS WINDOWS
SPECIFICALLY ORIETED TO LET IN MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
LIGHT BUT MINIMUM AMOUNT OF HEAT GIVING THE
INTERIORS A GOLDEN GLOW.
•TO ENHANCE THE CAVE LIKE FEELING, THE GENERAL
CONTOURS OF THE SITE WERE RETAINED RATHER THAN
BEING LEVELLED.
•THE GENTLE UNDULATING SURFACE OF THE EARTH CAN
STILL BE PERCEIVED BENEATH THE THIN CONCRETE
SFLOOR SLAB POURED OVER IT.
HUSSAIN DOSHI GUFA
EXTERIOR VIEW SHOWING THE DOMICAL
PROTRUDING CAVES
STONE FACED INTERIORS AND LIGHT SHAFT

17. INTERIOR VIEWS
DETAILS OF
DOMICAL
ROOFS
NATURAL CONTOURS EXPLOITED ON
THE SITE
DOMICAL SHEELS MADE OF FERRO CEMENT WHICH
PROVES TO BE A GOOD INSULATOR

18. •THIS IS ONE OF DOSHI’S FINAL WORKS, CREATING A RICH
ENVIRONMENT FOR PEPOLE.
• IT’S A RESEARCH INSTITUTE.
• IT’S A MODERN ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
• THE INTERIOR ROUTE INVOLVES TWISTS, TURNS, AND
UNEXPECTED VISTAS.
•HE DESIGNED BUILDING WITH ROUGH CONCRETE
EXTERIORS.
•BUILT UP AREA IS 10 THOUSAND SQUARE MTRS.
•CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
•AIR CONDITIONED AUDITORIUM WITH A CAPICITY OF 200
SEATS.
• 3 AIR CONDITIONED SEMINAR ROOMS WITH CAPACITY
OF 50,35, 25.
• 5 AIR CONDITIONED CLASS ROOMS.
• WELL FURNISHED HOSTEL WITH 30 GENERAL ROOMS.
• AIR CONDITIONED COMPUTER LABORATORY.
• CONCRETE VAULTED ROOF.
COURTYARD OF GANDHI
INSTITUTE
THE CORRIDOR BELOW
THE VAULTED ROOF
VIEW OF THE
EXTERIOR FACADE

19. SITE PLAN
•THE INSTITUTE HAS A BUILT UP AREA OF 11500 SQ
METRES. IT HAS AN ARCHITECTURAL GRANDEUR OF
ITS OWN.
•THE APPROACH IS ALONG THE DIAGONAL WHICH IS
ALONG THE FORECOURT PRIOR TO MOUNTING A
SHALLOW FLIGHT OF STEPS FLANKED BY A POOL.
•THE INSTITUTE IS DE MONUMENTALISED TO MAKE IT
FEEL ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
•THE COMPOSITION IS DISTINGUISHED BY ITS
STUDIED CONTRAST OF REGULARITY AND
IRREGULARITY.
•AXIS ARE IMPLIED, DENIED AND THEN RE-
DISCOVERED; THAT IS SHIFT IN THE AXIS AND BACK
TO THE SAME.
•ONE ENTERS THE FIRST FLOOR THROUGH A
TRANSVERSAL VAULT WHICH THEN FEEDS
LATERALLY INTO VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS BY MEANS
OF A LOFTY INTERIOR GALLERY.
•THE INTERIOR ROUTE INVOLVES TWISTS, TURNS,
VISTAS AND PERHAPS A METAPHOR OF MAHATMA’S
PAST.
NATURAL LIGHT AND
VENTILATION
FREE FLOWING SPACES
LOFTY INTERIOR
LOBBY
COMBIMATION OF
REGULARITY AND
IRREGULARITY IN FORM

20. VARIOUS VIEWS OF THE MAIN BLOCK

21. THANK YOU