The Royal Institute of British Architects announced Balkrishna Doshi as the recipient of its 2022 Royal Gold Medal on December 9th. With a decades-long career that has included over 100 built projects spanning administrative, cultural, educational, housing, and residential buildings, Doshi has built a practice steeped in local tradition and imbued with modernist values. The subject of numerous exhibitions, the 2018 Pritzker Laureate and advocate for equitable housing is internationally renowned not only for his architectural expertise, from urban planning to social housing, but also for his work in education. As a visiting professor at universities around the world, he has influenced generations of students.

According to RIBA, Doshi’s multi-disciplinary practice has “combined pioneering modernism with vernacular, informed by a deep appreciation of the traditions of India’s architecture, climate, local culture, and craft.” The award, which recognizes lifetime achievement in architecture and the built environment, has required the queen’s approval and involved a special ceremony since its inception in 1848.