Balkrishna Doshi’s 2022 Royal Gold Medal for Architecture

Balkrishna Doshi wins 2022 Royal Gold Medal for Architecture

Balkrishna Doshi has just been introduced as the recipient of the prestigious 2022 Royal Gold Medal for Architecture. The coveted gong has been awarded to the established and greatly acclaimed Indian architect by means of the RIBA and by personal approval by Her Majesty The Queen – it is the UK’s highest architectural honour, announced yearly and celebrated all-around the globe by the architecture and style and design discipline. Balkrishna Doshi, who also won the 2018 Pritzker Prize and was interviewed in his Ahmedabad property by Wallpaper* in 2009, is a person of the world’s most revered architects in his subject.

‘I am pleasantly shocked and deeply humbled to obtain the Royal Gold Medal from the Queen,’ suggests Doshi. ‘What a fantastic honour! The news of this award brought back again memories of my time doing work with Le Corbusier in 1953, when he experienced just obtained the news of acquiring the Royal Gold Medal. I vividly recollect his enjoyment to get this honour from Her Majesty. He said to me metaphorically, “I wonder how major and hefty this medal will be.”  Right now, 6 decades afterwards I experience really overcome to be bestowed with the very same award as my expert, Le Corbusier – honouring my six decades of exercise. I would like to categorical my heartfelt gratitude to my spouse, my daughters and most importantly my team and collaborators at Sangath, my studio.’

Balkrishna Doshi. Images: Pratik Gajjar

The Royal Gold Medal for Architecture is specified to an architect or studio once a year, in recognition of lifetime achievement, and an general physique of perform. Doshi has been prolific, with will work that span decades and mix worldwide and local traditions. Examples include Shreyas Comprehensive College Campus (1958 – 63), Ahmedabad, India Atira Guest Household (1958), Ahmedabad, reduced price housing the Institute of Indology (1962), Ahmedabad, a creating to property scarce files Ahmedabad Faculty of Architecture (1966, with additions until 2012 and renamed CEPT University in 2002), which targeted on making spaces that promote collaborative finding out Tagore Corridor & Memorial Theatre (1967), a 700-seat brutalist auditorium in Ahmedabad Premabhai Corridor (1976), Ahmedabad, India, a theatre and auditorium Indian Institute of Administration in Bangalore (1977 – 1992), a business school Sangath (1981), the studio for his architecture observe, Vastu Shilpa. 

‘It was an honour and a satisfaction to chair the committee in choosing Balkrishna Doshi as the 2022 Royal Gold Medallist. At 94 many years outdated, he has affected generations of architects by way of his delightfully purposeful architecture. Affected by his time invested in the office of Le Corbusier, his operate nevertheless is that of an authentic and independent thinker – capable to undo, redo and evolve. In the 20th century, when technology facilitated lots of architects to establish independently of local climate and tradition, Balkrishna remained closely connected with his hinterland: it is local climate, systems new and old and crafts,’ claimed RIBA president Simon Allford. ‘Balkrishna Doshi’s remarkable contribution to the artwork of architecture, the craft of development and the follow of city design set up him as a most deserving receiver of this award and I enormously glimpse ahead to him becoming presented with the medal next calendar year.’ §