The Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) has announced that Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi has won the gold medal for architecture 2022, one of the world’s most prestigious awards in architecture.

– I am very surprised and very humbled to receive a gold medal from the Queen of England. What a great honor!, said Doshi in a press release.

The news of the award made the 94-year-old man recall his time working with Le Corbusier in 1953, when news that he had been awarded the gold medal.

– I remember very well how happy he was to receive a medal from His Majesty. He said, metaphorically, “I wonder how big and heavy the medal is.” Today, six decades later, I am utterly overwhelmed to be honored with the same honors as my role models – and honored for my six decades of practice. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my wife, my daughter and most importantly to my team and my colleagues at work.

Popular modernism

The award recognizes Doshi’s living work, and is personally approved by the Queen of England. The gold medal is awarded to “a person or group who has had a significant influence on the progress of architecture”, and has been awarded since 1848.

For 70 years and with over 100 works built, Balkrishna Doshi has influenced the architecture of India and beyond through practice and teaching. Its architecture combines groundbreaking modernism with popularity, and attests to a deep understanding of Indian architectural traditions, climate, local culture and crafts. In 2018, Doshi won the Pritzker Award.