Doshi: Chapter 8 - 'So what is our heritage?'

In the last chapter of the film “Doshi”, BV Doshi talks about the status quo in the field of architecture and its students in India. He turns back to history, showing us how they had done it through simple yet easy techniques at the Sarkhej Roza in Ahmedabad. The intentions by architects can mean a lot for our urban development, its people and he urges one to rethink the role of architects, who must think out of their mundane tasks about the larger public realm.

“How come we don’t think about this public realm..?

We don’t talk about people, communities, them rejoicing, we don’t have urban development at all.

We, don’t say, gentlemen here is our new heritage,

Not expensive, do you think collecting water is expensive?

Using sun and light and shadow and sun and showing people the play of volumes and sculptures and music is expensive? It things are good, people will come and dance, if they are not there they won’t come and dance…

There is a beauty that comes from the subtle nuances of volumes and surfaces, look at the skyline now, look at the skills, it is not the monumentality or the size, now we only talk about the price and the value and the cost of things…” - BV Doshi ( at the Sarkhej Roza, Ahmedabad)

9 min watch

See more from the film series 'Doshi':

Doshi: The Beginnings

Doshi: Chapter 1 - 'Eight months with olives and cheese'

Doshi: Chapter 2 - 'I’m not an architect… for me its a search'

Doshi: Chapter 3 - 'Indian Plan is Not Centric'

Doshi: Chapter 4 - 'You Are Representing God'

Doshi: Chapter 5 - 'The End Result Is Not as Exciting as the Process'

Doshi: Chapter 6 - 'Architecture is a Matter of Transformation'

Doshi: Chapter 7 - 'Human Being, By Nature, Is a Warm Compassionate Animal'

Doshi: Chapter 8 - 'So, What Is Our Heritage?'

Doshi: Karma