Balkrishna Doshi Remembered by Architect Giovanni Leone

Architect Balkrishna Doshi passed away on January 24, 2023. In a personal tribute published on Artribune, Italian architect Giovanni Leone recalls his deep friendship with Doshi, which began in 1993 during Leone's first trip to India. Leone describes Doshi as a mentor who taught him to see architecture as the construction of habitat, a living space where spirit and body meet. Doshi's work emphasized the ethical and social responsibilities of architecture, influencing well-being and environment. Leone highlights Doshi's teaching method: a Socratic dialogue that encouraged introspection and expanded horizons. The tribute also mentions Doshi's visits to Italy, including a trip to Vicenza where he admired Palladio's Palazzo Porto, and his ability to find totality in fragments. Leone credits Doshi with introducing him to meditation and inner silence, and concludes by celebrating the miracle of life between birth and death.