Architect Balkrishna Doshi becomes the first Indian to receive Pritzker Prize

Saturday March 10, 2018 , 2 min Read

The Pritzker Prize for 2018 have been awarded to Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi, for his ability to interpret architecture and transform it into buildings that respect Eastern culture.

The Pritzker Prize is a prestigious award and considered to be equivalent to a Nobel Prize in the architecture community. Ninety-year-old Balkrishna has worked towards improving the quality of life in his homeland, the Pritzker prize jury said.

Long considered to be one of India's foremost living architects and urban planners, Doshi is widely known for designing extensive, low-cost housing projects and public institutions.

The judging panel said it recognised the Pune-born architect for his "exceptional" work, his commitment and dedication to his country and its communities, his influence as a professor and for always being an excellent example for professionals and students the world over. According to IANS, the judging panel said,

Over the years, Balkrishna Doshi has always created an architecture that is serious, never flashy or a follower of trends. With a deep sense of responsibility and a desire to contribute to his country and its people through high quality, authentic architecture, he has created projects for public administrations and utilities, educational and cultural institutions, and residences for private clients, among others.

Balkrishna studied architecture in JJ School of Architecture, Mumbai and, in 1950, he moved to Paris to work with Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, popularly known as Le Corbusier.

Some of the renowned buildings he has designed since he came back to India include the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, Kamala House, Ahmedabad, Tagore Memorial Hall, Institute of Indology and the Center for Environmental Planning and Technology in Ahmedabad.

(With inputs from IANS)