In Kalavaani, Swabhumi, Kolkata, the Ambuja Neotia Group announced the launch of the second edition of the B.V. Doshi Memorial Exhibition. The show, which is titled “Celebrating the Life and Work of Architect Girish Doshi,” pays moving homage to the enduring legacy of India’s first Pritzker Laureate, Balkrishna V. Doshi.

The focus of this year’s exhibition is Girish Doshi, one of B.V. Doshi’s closest students, whose work exhibits restraint, clarity, and profound compassion. The show examines how his approach developed out of a dedication to simplicity, structural integrity, and interconnected spatial experiences rather than a need for spectacle through sketches, models, pictures, and reflective essays.

The Group also announced the establishment of the Prabir Mitra Memorial Award as part of the memorable event. This yearly honor is given in remembrance of the late Shri Prabir Mitra, a quiet visionary whose integrity, wisdom, and principles inspired generations of architects. The Most Promising Architect, selected for their outstanding design, responsible practice, and social contribution, is honored with this award. Prominent architects Partha Ranjan Das, Subir Kumar Basu, Abin Chaudhuri, and Vivek Singh Rathore are on the award’s first jury.

SQUARE, an architectural and interior design firm with a strong cultural heritage in West Bengal and Kolkata in particular, was given the award in its inaugural year. The firm is also sensitive to the needs and trends of the younger generation in a global setting. Their highly stylized use of classic art forms culminates in a mature and joyous expression that demonstrates a harmonious growth in materials, graphical quality, and formal harmony.

Shri Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group, said, “With the B.V. Doshi Memorial Exhibition and the Prabir Mitra Memorial Award, we hope to honor not only outstanding architecture but also the timeless and compassionate principles that define the field: integrity, moderation, and purpose. B. V. Doshi is also a friend, philosopher, and guide for me on a personal level”.

 Architects, cultural theorists, design aficionados, and supporters of the Doshi heritage gathered for the evening to contemplate architecture as both an art form and a duty. It evolved into a reminder of an inspiring way of thinking, creating, and living rather than just a celebration of specific works.

The exhibition will remain open at Kalavaani, Swabhumi, from August 29 to September 14, from Monday to Thursday (4:00 pm – 8:00 pm) and Friday to Sunday (12:00 pm – 8:00 pm).

Priyanka Dutta