SEMINAR REPORT

Ar. BALKRISHNA VITHALDAS DOSHI

Submitted by : Vishnu Prakash l Yaseen Sulaiman l Sivaprasad l Sreelal

Ar. BALKRISHNA VITHALDAS DOSHI

Architect

Urbanist

Builds in harmony with the climate, culture and tradition of India Bridged the gap between modern architecture and the age old lessons of Indias peasant village and ancient village

Educator

L I F E
H I S T O R Y

1927

Doshi was born in Pune, India

Did his bachelors from J. J. School of Art, Bombay worked with Le Corbusier as senior designer in Paris

1950

1951-54

1956

private practice in VastuShilpa, Ahmedabad

A fellow at the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts. established the Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for Environmental Design

1958

1962

CHRONOLOGY OF WORKS

1957- 60

ATIRA AND PRL LOW-COST HOUSING, AHEMADABAD

1957 - 62

L.D INSTITUTE OF INDOLOGY, AHEMADABAD

1959 - 61

ARCHITECTS OWN HOUSE AHEMADABAD

1962-74

Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

1964 - 69

TOWNSHIP, GUJARAT STATE FERTILISERS CORPORATION, BARODA

1968 - 71

1972

TOWNSHIP, ELECTRONICS CORPORATION OF INDIA LTD. HYDERABAD

1969 76

HOUSING TYPES KOTA, KALOL, AHMEDABAD

1983 - 86

LOW COST HOUSING INDORE

1972

Centre for Environment and Planning Technology (CEPT) Ahmedabad

1979-80

Sangath, BV Doshi's office,

Ahmedabad

1980 - 84

GANDI LABOUR INSTITUTE AHMEDABAD

1989

National Institute of Fashion Design, Delhi

1990

Amdavad ni Gufa Ahmedabad

PRINCIPLES

Mythical Sense

Doshi belief in the Mythical Sense of space often evident in traditional architecture which is not simply confined to open or closed areas. According to him space can be modified according to the desire of the perceiver and is never static

Vaastu-Purusha Mandala
The structural and formal systems that Doshi has adopted led him to assimilate the 2nd principle of Vaastu-Purusha Mandala to ensure minimum standards of health and hygiene in each project . Vaastu (environment), Purusha (energy) and Mandala (astrology) are combined in the diagram that has evolved to assist builders in determining proper orientation. North relates to the lord of wealth, south relates to the lord f death , east to the lord of light (the rising sun), and west to the lord of wind. The centre is attributed to the lord of the Cosmos .

Transformation of Energy
. Transformation of Energy

sun radiations
natural elements

Wind

between the building and people using the space for functional use. The Energy takes place between the walls, columns and space of the building. The natural energy produces through sun radiations or natural elements, surroundings, species around it etc. Doshi followed it in his architecture by providing openness in buildings through colonnades, pergolas, porticos, sky lights etc. for e.g.- IIM, Bangalore.

surroundin gs species around it

Human Institutions
Doshi has persisted a deep belief in importance of Human Institutions, just as Louis-i-Kahn did before him. This belief, is amplified by his own deep cultural experience and popular evolution of new institutions. The name of his office itself, the Vaastu-Shilpa foundation, is a ringing affirmation of Doshis faith in the dialogue between people and architecture of which he speaks and powers of dialogue to bring about old institutions and create new ones

flexible rather than rigid approach to the structure

A more specific principle is to follow flexible rather than rigid approach to the structure. This is how transformation of space from the mere static container ; to a place where people actually feel a psychic interchange is best achieved. Here Doshi refers to the multiple mixed structural systems, of the type found in Madurai temple and city of Fatehpur Sikri.

symbolism

mixture of structural systems

The idea of flexibility leads him to a principle, of incorporating symbolism. He believes that it can only be accommodated by mixture of structural systems. Symbolically charged space must be designed as receptacle for human activity.

Symbolically charged space

receptacle for human activit

Amorphous rather than finite forms

Doshi also advocates Amorphous rather than finite forms ; used with multiple structural systems so that experience with them may be loose meandering and multiple. For e.g.- Aranya low cost housing, Indore.

Timelessness

As an eighth and final principle, doshi seeks Timelessness in his architecture much as Louis khan did when describing his quality in historical precedents as' open endedness

SANGATH, ARCHITECTS STUDIO

AHMEDABAD (1979-81) Total

STRUCTURAL SYSTEM: POST AND BEAMS WITH REINFORCED CONCRETE SLABS, FERRO CONCRETE VAULTS, BRICK MASONRY WALLS

An Ensemble of Vaulted and flat roofed buildings at different height

Vaulted roof reduced the heating up of building

Floor Space 473 M2 Total Land Area 2425 M2 Climate Hot & Dry

Studio Multi functional space Secretaries Office Engineers Office Library Fore Court Pond Amphitheatre Entrance court Reception Workshop Conference room Toilets Architects office Subterranean meeting room

Human Circulation

RECEPTION AMPHITHEATRE ENTRANCE COURT POND

WORKSHOP CONFERENCE TOILETS

Studio

FORECOURT

Three means of allowing light in to the interiors

This building is inspired by temple architecture, shikhara like vaults, high plinth

The roof finishing is done by China Brocken tile Mosaic. which reflects the suns radiation(reduce the heating up of building), use of waste material

WATER CASCADE

vegetation

SPLIT LEVEL POOLS

Helps to reduce the heating up of building

Some building sunken below ground level Studios Are at double height, surmounted by two vaults Two units facing the entrance is at triple height

Double height helps to reduce the heating up of building by hot air rises up and cool air falls down, also brings more natural light, cross ventilation. Space sunken also helps to be cool during summer and enough warmth during summer by the principle earth a non conductor of heat

SECTIONS

Section AA

Some building sunken below ground level

Studios Are at double height, surmounted by two vaults Two units facing the entrance is at triple height Section BB

Buildings sunken below ground level and Double height helps to reduce the heating up of building by cross ventilation, non thermal conductivity of earth

ELEVATIONS

South Elevation Sketch comparing insulation of roof to a turban

shikhara like vaults

West Elevation Here Doshi refers to the multiple mixed structural systems, of the type found in Madurai temple and city of

Amdavad ni Gufa
Ahmedabad (1992 -95) Its a mixed work by B.V Doshi and Indian artist M.F Husain. Its a art gallery for exhibiting artists work Doshi took stupa as concept The difference between stupa and Gufa is 25mm thin Ferro cement shell that has bee used as the structure of Doshis museum, as well as the sloping Colum that has been used internally

Site Area- 1000 sq.mt. Built up Area- 280 sq.mt

a combination of high technology and traditional techniques that also describes the essential timelessness of technology itself

Natural Light is available through the day, Creating different mood from am to pm

The structure is specifically oriented to let in the maximum amount of heat & light to give the interior a golden glow

PLAN

This structure is in form of skeletal skin & wire mesh sandwiched on each side by layers of cement.

The concrete is then covered with a compacted layer of vermiculite followed by mosaic pieces of broken china. White tiles reflects the sun rays, helps to keep the interior cool.

VIEWS OF GUFA The central hall is supported by 2 rows of columns which divide the interior in to a wider centre aisle & 2 side aisle. The columns have octagonal shafts wider at base & tapered at capital. The ribs, which spans from column line to column line, create the vaulted roof of cave. The snouts seems as skylights to throw light inside