THE quiet and unassuming Mill Owner’s Association building – a Le Corbusier masterpiece – on Ashram Road was lit up in all its grandeur on Friday evening. The occasion? Celebrating a legend of architecture – someone who also worked for Corbusier (in Paris) and supervised the latter’s projects in the city, besides having created some of the most iconic structures in Amdavad – Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi’s 90th birthday. And the gala – organised by a popular home décor magazine – had one impressive, snazzy guest list (obviously!). The tables were laid out in all chic and au courant themes (from ‘love’ and ‘generosity’ to ‘passion’ and ‘serenity’), and the stage was set to honour the natty 90-year-old. Family and friends were in attendance at the event, ‘Dinner With Friends’, including Puneet Jasuja, Ayaz Basrai, Kayzad Shroff, Sandeep and Tania Khosla, Seetu Kohli, Arzan Khambatta, Kanchan Puri, Pinky Pandit, Sonali Bhagwati, Monica Zafar, Swarup Dutta, Ekta and Rajiv Parikh, Apoorva Shroff, among others.

ON Saturday, BV Doshi and his architect-friends spoke in the event, Porosity. Paradox.Practice – Balkrishna Doshi in conversation with Juhani Pallasamaa, Rolf Fehlbaum and Mahendra Raj. Doshi asked the architects, “If AMC appoints you its chief architect, what changes would you bring to the city’s architecture?’ Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa said, “Making buildings just for aesthetics, pressure of consumer society when they consider property as sales products, treating architectures just as show pieces, all these invariably harm the society. While building something, the most essential thing is not the size and shape, but imagining how humans would live there.” Switzerland-based Rolf Fehlbaum said, “When I visited the Pol, I was pleasantly surprised to see intrinsic architecture and huge buildings, but it is unfortunate to see they are not well maintained. Such structures should be built in accordance with the atmosphere, society and people here.”

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