This autobiography of the 85-year-old Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi recalls the similar, though much shorter, reminiscenses of his contemporaries in Project Japan, Rem Koolhaas and Hans Ulrich Obrist’s recent book on the Metabolist architects. Both books convey the distinctive character of their respective cultures—intuitive and random in India, methodical and highly organized in Japan. Both contribute to the understanding of an architecturally rich part of the 20th century.
Without either the social or educational background of most successful architects, Doshi attributes the rich opportunities of his lifetime to the principles of Hinduism, among them “to find the universal through the personal microcosm.” Indeed, religion is the guiding principle of this architect's quasi-mystical meditation on life and work. One of Doshi’s goals is to incorporate local traditions within Modern architecture, and he includes among his gurus his grandfather, Dada (a furniture-maker), and a selection of Hindu gods, together with Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn.
You have 0 complimentary articles remaining.
Unlimited access + premium benefits for as low as $1.99/month.