Vastushilpa Consultants 1
HBU-UCLan
School of Media, Communication and Creative Industries
DD2000 Design Context 2 – BA (Hons) Interior Design
Module Leader: Dr Timothy Chan
Title: Vastushilpa Consultants
Student’s Name: Jingyuan Shi Justin
Matriculation No: G20969271
Year/Level of study: Year 3/ Level 5
Submission date: 1.20 2024
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Contents
Section 1: Introduce.............................................................................................................Page 3-4
1.Designer Introduction
2.Design concept
3.Keyword
Section 2: Design works......................................................................................................Page 4-9
1.Sangjia Architects Studio
2.Aranya Low Cost Housing
3.Amdavad ni Gufa
Section 3: Summarize..........................................................................................................Page 9-10
Refrence.............................................................................................................................. Page 11
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Section 1: Introduce
1.Designer Introduction
Balkrishna Doshi（1927-2023）,The Father of Modern Indian Architecture.
Born in 1927
Bakrishna Doshi was born into a multi generational family in Pune, India. He often goes to
temples and pilgrimage sites with his family to participate in festival celebrations, birth
celebrations, or pre - and post death ceremonies. The cycle of life and the diversity of life have
had a huge impact on his subsequent architectural creations.
From 1951 to 1954, he studied under Corbusier
Duoxi Shi came from Corbusier and joined his studio located at 35 Saivre Street in Paris. Dorsi
initially served as the coordinator for Kobseyer's urban planning in Chandigarh, India, and quickly
participated in several projects in Ahmedabad, such as the Cotton Textile Association Building,
Schottham Villa, and Sarabayi Villa.
Established studio in 1955
After leaving Corbusier's studio, Dorsey, who was only 28 years old, founded the studio Vastu
Shilpa (Environmental Design) in India.
2.Design concept
Doshi is a pioneer of modernist architecture in India, known for \"humanizing modernism in
redefining Indian architecture\" and \"his foresight in low-cost housing and urban planning, as well
as his unwavering commitment to education.\". His job scope ranges from building entire cities and
towns to academic campuses, cultural institutions, private residences, interior design, as well as
social and experimental housing.
Architecture neither follows the trend nor pursues flashy and eye-catching designs. Its architecture
has been carefully polished, containing a vision and sense of responsibility to contribute to the
country. The types of works are also very diverse, covering administrative agencies and facilities,
cultural and educational buildings, private residences, and so on.
He has a very clear understanding of the context of the location of the building. His design scheme
takes into account various aspects such as society, economy, environment, etc., thus creating
sustainable buildings. The critical regionalist architecture with Indian characteristics is achieved in
the highly sculptural concrete and brick masonry of Doshi. He is deeply influenced by his mentor
in terms of architectural form, while the local elements in spatial layout and urban planning are
clearly distinguishable. This technique of blending Eastern and Western, ancient and modern
elements is most clearly reflected in the Sangath studio designed by Dorsey himself.
His design not only meets functional and structural requirements, but also takes into account
factors such as climate, site, technology, craftsmanship, and, in the broadest sense, integrates a
deep understanding and appreciation of culture. Architecture is built on functionality, utilizing
poetry and philosophy to resonate with it at the spiritual level of humanity.
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3.Keyword
Critical regionalism、sustainability、sociality
Section 2: Design works
1.Sangjia Architects Studio
Sanga is the studio of Bakrishna Dosi, consisting of multiple domes of different heights and angles
and flat roofs. Its features include a series of sunken arches inlaid with mosaic tiles, a stepped
circular theater with green grass, and flowing details. Sanja is defined as the ultimate
interpretation of Dorsey himself, which is a complete collection of Dorsey's architectural concepts,
encompassing multiple factors from his previous projects, including complex interior and
structural design, unclear edge boundaries, arches, and terraces.
The project boldly utilizes a semi-circular arch made of concrete, combined with public spaces,
courtyards, and water features, to add coolness to India's climate environment.
Sangjia demonstrated Dorsey's desire to connect nature and the individual. The entire building
exaggeratedly magnifies natural elements - undulating mountain shapes, cave like spatial
expressions, terraced terraces, witty flowing water designs, and various reflective facades.
Rainwater enters the rainwater collector through a smooth and round arch.
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In addition to nature, Sangha also carries a series of Indian cultures. The design of the building
draws inspiration from the layout of the temple, with different blocks ultimately leading to a main
building, loosely imitating the design of the pagoda.
After entering the building complex, people will immediately see the outline of an arch hovering
behind the exterior wall, and a small crack on the surface can reveal a slight landscape of the
interior. The path turns, forcing residents to leave the north-south axis and follow the elevated
garden wall. Now in the perspective, it can be seen that the arch begins to retreat into the
background above the green circular theater, waterways, and garden in the foreground. When
people pass by the reflection pool that captures the dome in still water, the entrance becomes very
obvious. It is located at the end of the diagonal passage leading to the arch.
The main entrance lowers visitors a few steps down to the vault and offers the option of climbing
a three story staircase, or crossing a small corridor through Dorsey's office to enter the main news
editing room. Here, the ceiling level rises as residents experience how Dorsey interweaves spaces
of different heights and creates compression and release between them. The lower part of the arch
of the main news editing room is made of textured concrete, which disperses natural light into the
space. At the end of the room is the opening seen from the entrance of the venue, restoring the
sense of place along the main axis.
The sinking internal space is isolated by the clay within the structure. The grass mounds and
reflective white porcelain mosaics covering each arch reduce the heat of the sun. During the day,
natural light also penetrates into indoor spaces, while at night, the moon reflects off ponds and
porcelain mosaics. In addition to natural connections, Sangat also has connections with Indian
culture. This arrangement is similar to the way temples unfold a series of stages on the final
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platform, while the form vaguely imitates the boldness of pagodas. Le Corbusier's ear shaped
swimming pool also clearly mentions modern style. The steps of the circular theater are similar to
the steps of Alto and Wright, and Gaudi's broken porcelain mosaic; And water elements similar to
those found in the Karnsolke Institute.
Sangath in local language means sharing and working together. The arched roof of this building
echoes the dynamic concept of sharing in form, while also reflecting the characteristics of Indian
architecture. The outer contour of the continuous arch, along with the surrounding steps, pools,
flower beds, lawns, and sculptures, forms a rich and colorful outdoor landscape. A variety of
spaces composed of continuous arches, including both underground and above ground, large
spaces filled with sunlight, and small black spaces, can not only meet different functional needs,
but also give people a sense of movement in this interlocking space.
2.Aranya Low Cost Housing
Economic Weaker Sections (EWS) refer to individuals or households whose economic income is
below the government's standard line, including those whose income is below the poverty line. In
India, EWS is not uncommon, and their housing, economic, and educational issues have always
been a major headache for the government, eager to solve.
Architect Balkrishna Doshi and his studio Vastu Shilpa took a different approach by planning a
low-cost residential area in the small town of Arya in Indore, creating a place for the people of the
region to live and realizing their wishes and dreams of \"home\".
The inspiration for \"low cost housing in Aran\" comes from Mahatma Gandhi's care for the
impoverished people and the spirit of \"self-sufficiency\" embodied in the spinning wheel
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Humanized distribution: The central axis of the region is connected by commercial districts and
divided into six residential areas. In addition to commercial areas, residential areas, and human
scale streets, there are also some public open spaces where residents can gather, communicate, and
engage in various activities.
The structure is simple, covering an area of 30 square meters, and is equipped with wall
foundations and sanitation facilities modules that connect water and electricity. At the same time,
these houses also leave space for construction and changes, for residents to expand, renovate, and
decorate according to their personal needs and preferences. Duoxi's efficient, energy-saving, and
user-friendly design allows buildings to continuously grow and develop over time.
In terms of urban and territorial scale, the basic goal of this project is to make the layout of the
new settlement logically and naturally adapt to the terrain features of the existing terrain. A series
of distribution routes have branched out from the central spine of many never built facilities and
large public spaces, forming the urban structure of Anaya at different levels. Of particular note is
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the pedestrian walkway that forms the final floor, which organizes the smallest residential
complex. Among them, the presence of vegetation of different sizes and different architectural
installations provides a strong sense of urban and social identity.
Defining the correct scale of human nature throughout the entire project is crucial for cultivating a
sense of rootedness and belonging, ultimately leading to the successful formation of new urban
settlements. For this purpose, a popular element of Indian rural architecture was used, namely otta,
which is an outdoor platform in front of a house or in the center of a group of houses. This type of
architectural installation is the largest meeting and gathering space in the community. Beyond the
threshold of residence, the first social interaction between an individual and their community, or
between the community and the territory in which they reside, takes place within the framework of
this element.
3.Amdavad ni Gufa
In 1991, Dosey was invited to design a display space for his friend Marco Butler Fida Hussein.
Hussein is an important contemporary artist in India and one of the founders of the Mumbai
avant-garde artist group. His paintings blend traditional Indian style with Western Cubism, often
depicting ancient myths, religions, and history, as well as urban and rural life in India today, with
bright colors, bold compositions, and abstract graphics. Due to his unique creations, Hussein was
also hailed by Forbes magazine as the Picasso of India.
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The Hussein Gallery is a display space that is different from conventional cubes, similar to ancient
caves, with a rugged appearance that contains primitive vitality. The Cave Gallery is a new
attempt by Doshi to combine Indian tradition and modernist style.
Duoxi combines traditional tribal thatched cottage construction techniques with computer-aided
structural planning, using computers to help construct the curved structure of the designed
building. Only one foot thick steel wire mesh cement is used for the walls and dome of the
building, reducing the load in the shape of waves. All internal structures are self-supporting and
relieve weight pressure through continuous connectivity.
In Bakrishna Dossi's view, architects should not only be proficient in the formal rules, material
science, and architectural structure in the field of architecture, but also have an understanding of
society, economy, and nature. In the process of the rise of urban civilization in India, many ancient
cities grew naturally. For China, which also has its own unique architectural culture, Bakrishna
Dosi's integration of modern architectural concepts and local architectural traditions is an
important reference and inspiration. It is this architect, now in his 90s, who continues to showcase
the vibrant vitality of Eastern architecture in our era. Duoxi gave us a clear direction for
development, making us understand that the most important thing is that architecture is related to
life.
Section 3: Summarize
\"I'm not an architect,\" he said with a glint in his eyes. \"I'm just a person pursuing my own
destiny.\" He has a brilliant career and completed over 100 projects, including urban planning
projects, cultural centers, university campuses, residential and social housing.
Through the public and ritualistic nature of the local way of life in India, Dorsey concluded that
architecture is a living entity, not a form of construction. Corbusier's \"leftist\" design culture is
expressed through Dosey's views on national construction, reflecting India's hope and demand for
shared reality. In his works, we can see a profound respect for history and tradition, paving the
way for the evolution of contemporary Indian architecture.
As a compassionate educator and designer, Dorsey's most influential contribution is the
knowledge he instills in his students and practitioners. Through his works, university,
autobiography, and countless opportunities for face-to-face communication, Dorsey has never
forgotten to inspire the next generation of architects with his ideas. He is admired for his childlike
curiosity and constant thirst for learning. Seeking the unknown is his motto.
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When he learned of winning the Pritzker Prize, Doshi said that it once again strengthened his
belief: \"When architecture and life are integrated, it is a celebration of life.\" But more importantly,
in that relatively barren era, Doshi used his own strength to open the door of modern Indian
architecture and let light in.\"Putting people first, resonating, and having extraordinary significance,
his contribution to the architecture industry has had a profound impact on human society.\" The
Pritzker Prize jury presented this year's award to Dorsey, aiming to recognize his outstanding
architectural talent demonstrated by over 100 architectural works; Praise his commitment and
dedication to the country and the community he serves, his influence as a teacher, and the
outstanding example he has set for professionals and students around the world throughout his
long career.
Duoxi passed away on January 24, 2023. He spent his entire life praising, and his works
maintained the energy of hope that he resolutely held. Dorsey believes that architecture is fluid,
lasting from the past to the present. Therefore, his philosophy will continue to exist throughout
history, constantly shaping architecture.
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Refrence
1.Pictures: Sangjia Architects Studio, Hidden Architecture 2020 (12)
<https://hiddenarchitecture.net/>
2.Pictures: Aranya Low Cost Housing, Hidden Architecture 2022 (06)
<https://hiddenarchitecture.net/>
3.Pictures: Amdavad ni Gufa, Chimney · PSA《A cave gallery, a clash of art and architecture》
2017 (10)
<https://www.sohu.com/>
4.ArchDaily, Ankitha Gattupalli《Celebration of Architecture: B V. Dorsey's Philosophical
Concepts》 2023 (02)
<https://www.archdaily.cn/>
