balkrishna doshi: VITRA design museum presents first international retrospective outside asia

the balkrishna doshi vitra design museum exhibition showcases the architect's integration of modernism and traditional vernacular architecture.

kat barandy February 4, 2019 3 min

with the exhibition ‘balkrishna doshi: architecture for the people’, the VITRA design museum presents the acclaimed work of balkrishna doshi. opening on march 30, 2019, the show will be the the first international retrospective about the 2018 pritzker prize laureate outside of asia. the renowned indian architect and urban planner is one of the few pioneers of modern architecture in his home country and the first to receive the prestigious award. during over 60 years of practice, doshi has realized a wide range of projects, adopting principles of modern architecture and integrating them with local culture, traditions, resources, and natural environment.

balkrishna doshi vitra design museum
exterior view of the underground art space that doshi created with m.f. husain
amdavad ni gufa, ahmedabad, 1994 © iwan baan 2018

the exhibition at the VITRA design museum will present numerous significant projects realized by the architect between 1958 and 2014. this assemblage of works ranges in scale from urban planning projects to academic and cultural institutions, private residences, and interiors. the show will open doshi’s work to a global audience and demonstrate how his work has shaped new generations of architects and redefined contemporary indian architecture. the retrospective therefore does not only offer an overview of doshi’s architectural work, but further reflect on its underlying ideals and social context.

balkrishna doshi vitra design museum
interior view of the underground art space
amdavad ni gufa, ahmedabad, 1994 © iwan baan 2018

his architectural language, both poetic and functional, is strongly influenced by his work with le corbusier during the design of the indian city of chandigarh. beyond this early influence, doshi developed a design philosophy that merges both industrialism and primitivism, as well as modern architecture and traditional form. his practice integrates environmentally sustainable ideals and roots architecture within the larger context of the surrounding culture, and its social, ethical, and religious beliefs. the exhibition opens on march 30, and remains on view until september 8, 2019.

balkrishna doshi vitra design museum
detail of the rooftop of the art space
amdavad ni gufa, ahmedabad, 1994 © iwan baan 2018

balkrishna doshi vitra design museum
the plan’s eye-like shape is meant to encourage visitors to open their own ‘third eye’
ompuri temple, matar, 1998 © courtesy of vastushilpa foundation, ahmedabad, photo: vinay panjwani

balkrishna doshi vitra design museum
interior view of the foyer at the tagore memorial hall
tagore memorial hall, ahmedabad, 1967 © vastushilpa foundation, ahmedabad

balkrishna doshi vitra design museum
exterior view of the concert hall
premabhai hall, ahmedabad, 1976 © courtesy of vastushilpa foundation, ahmedabad, photo: vinay panjwani

balkrishna doshi vitra design museum
interior view of the staircase and entrance hall
premabhai hall, ahmedabad, 1976 © iwan baan 2018

balkrishna doshi vitra design museum
one of the open green courts of the indian institute of management hostel block
‘indian institute of management’ (IIM), bangalore, 1977-92 © iwan baan 2018

balkrishna doshi vitra design museum
one of the spacious, light-flooded corridors at IIM
indian institute of management (IIM), bangalore, 1977-92 © courtesy of vastushilpa foundation, ahmedabad, image by vinay panjwani

balkrishna doshi vitra design museum
residence in its original configuration before residents moved in:
housing for life insurance corporation (LIC), ahmedabad, 1973 © vastushilpa foundation, ahmedabad

balkrishna doshi vitra design museum
example of alterations of the architectural structure by inhabitants:
housing for life insurance corporation (LIC), ahmedabad, 1973 © vastushilpa foundation, ahmedabad