Navkar Architects

Girish Doshi is an architect based in Pune involved in designing residences and institutions. After graduating from BKPS School of Architecture, Pune University in 1980, he joined Master Architect Balkrishna Doshi’s studio ‘Sangath’ in Ahmedabad . After seven years of unconditional apprenticeship with him, he started his own studio ‘Navkar’, Pune in 1987. His construction technique is strongly influenced from his guru Engineer Vishnu Joshi who taught him the art of ferrogami and concrete block technique for cost effective construction now known as ‘Vishnu Padhat’. Because of this he had a fairly long spell of ‘Design and Build’ practice. Along with his practice he also follows his passion for teaching. He is currently Design Chair at Brick School of Architecture. In 2007, he started a forum ‘R.O.A.D – Room Open to Art Design’, where he promotes young talent, organizes sessions inviting people from varied fields – from performing artists, educationists, conservationists to historians, cartoonists etc. for informal chats where students and professionals can have dialogs and out of class learning. When it comes to work philosophy, “we at Navkar strongly believe that architecture is not a simple manipulation of forms, but is about construction of space and place. Light plays a decisive role in our design. To us authentic material, pure geometry and nature are the essentials that make architecture. Words Beauty, Inspiration, Joy, as well as the concept of serenity, silence, solitude all this have nestled in our soul and though we are fully aware that we have not done them complete justice in our work, they have never ceased to be our guiding lights.” We have worked and hope to continue to work inspired by the faith that the aesthetic truth of these ideas will in some measure contribute toward dignifying human existence.