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Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi Photo By DrashtiUnit –

10 Most Famous Indian Architects

A Civilization’s roots are not limited to a single language or culture. It is possibly most deeply ingrained in the souls of its buildings and architecture. Most of them withstand the test of time and demonstrate the spirit of the era.

Indian architects have left this rich legacy in the form of historical monuments, palaces, mosques, temples, structures, and even the most basic mud houses. Many modern architects have expanded their historical and cultural architectural influences by creating a contemporary-styled India.

The Lotus Temple in Delhi and The Light Box Restroom in Mumbai are two examples of contemporary architecture among many others.

So, let us now meet some of the doyens of Indian architecture who have achieved international acclaim.

Here are the ten most famous Indian Architects.

1. Achyut Kanvinde

Achyut Kanvinde Photo By Sarbjit Bahga –

Kanvinde received the Padma Shri (India’s fourth-highest civilian award) in 1974 for his contributions to science and engineering. He specialized in the Brutalist or Brutalism architectural style.

He graduated from the Sir J.J. School of Arts in Mumbai and went on to further his education in the United States.

He has designed several major construction projects, including the ISKCON Temple in New Delhi and the Dudhsagar Dairy Complex, Gujarat’s largest milk processing unit.

His love of blending spaces and forms set him apart from the crowd.

Other notable projects include the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, the Nehru Science Centre in Mumbai, the Ashoka Estate, and the National Science Centre in Delhi.

2. Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi

B V Doshi is considered to be one of India’s greatest architects. He is regarded as one of India’s most important and influential architects, and he is largely responsible for the advancement of Indian architecture.

Doshi has received numerous awards for his professional contributions, including the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2018. He was the first Indian to ever receive the award, and he has also received the Padma Shri and Padma Bhusan (the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India).

He is noted for his groundbreaking work in low-cost housing and city planning, and his strong devotion to education.

Some of his one-of-a-kind architectural designs for various buildings include campuses of NIFT( National Institute of Fashion Technology) in Delhi and IIM(Indian Institute Of Management–Bangalore) in Bangalore.

3. Brinda Somaya

Brinda Somaya Photo By Sarbjit Bahga –

Brinda Somaya is an Indian architect and conservationist who believes that development and progress must take place without putting the cultural and historical environment at risk.

She is well-known for her stunning vernacular architecture, which incorporates water, light, geometry, a wall, and a material. She has built and restored structures while keeping historical significance in mind.

She has also organized architectural rehabilitation projects, such as the Bhuj Project, in which villagers were involved in the discussion and evolution of its conceptual and aesthetic design.

Among her many honours, she was the first woman to receive the Wienerberger Golden Architect Award for lifetime achievement in 2007, as well as the 2004 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for her work on the restoration of St. Thomas’ Cathedral in Mumbai.

4. Nari Gandhi

Nari Gandhi, a friend and colleague of the great Frank Lloyd Wright, was an Indian architect known for his highly hands-on, tactual, craftsman-like approach to architecture.

Gandhi’s creations, such as the famed Dawood Shoe House in Mumbai, are notable for their innovative use of rock, brick, wood, glass, and leather.

Interesting fact: the architect worked without an office and rarely made drawings for any of his projects. He spent a lot of time on his sites, worked closely with the craftsmen, and frequently participated in the construction process himself.

5. Charles Correa

Charles Correa Photo By Dipz99 –

Charles Correa was a well-known architect and urban planner on the cutting edge of contemporary Indian design, skilled at satisfying requirements while also preserving history.

He was awarded both the Padma Shri and the Padma Vibhushan(the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India). His body of work ranges from low-cost housing to high-rise structures.

Kanchanjunga Apartments in Mumbai, Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur, Bharat Bhawan in Bhopal, and the Ismaili Centre in Toronto are among his notable structures.

The courtyards and connecting spaces of traditional life are reconciled with the urban surroundings of an apartment complex at Kanchanjunga Apartments. As in the majestic arching lines of the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon, Indian values for connecting routes and history abide firmly in his work – often without obvious reference.

6. Hafeez Contractor

The guy responsible for the three tallest structures in India, The 42 in Kolkata and The Imperial twin towers in Mumbai, Hafeez Contractor is also a recipient of the 2016 Padma Bhushan and constantly brings elegance and beauty into the field.

However, he has also worked in various styles, as can be seen in the Global Education Centre in Mysore that combines the classical symmetry, domes and columns of Mysore palaces with Doric architecture.

7. Laurie Baker

This British-born Indian architect had a deep appreciation for spaces preserved through Indian architectural methods. His appreciation for vernacular and sustainable architecture led him to employ traditional techniques and materials while also inventing new ones in his designs.

He would use these tools to shade places from heat while still allowing sunlight and ventilation, minimize material usage, and always provide unparalleled aesthetic beauty.

He worked extensively with brick jaali walls, Mangalorean clay tiles, plaited palm thatches, ponds, courtyards, and curved roofs and walls to revolutionize the Indian landscape.

His notable works include the Hamlet, Centre for Development Studies, and Fishermen’s Village in Thiruvananthapuram.

8. Sheila Sri Prakash

Sheila Sri Prakash Photo By Shilpa Architects –

Sheila Sri Prakash is a multitalented veteran among Indian architects. The amazing woman is considered the first-ever Indian lady to start her own architectural firm in India, Shilpa Architects.

Green spaces and forms are frequently incorporated in the architect’s designs, to provide shade from the sun and rain while also allowing for maximum air movement.

Women entering the architecture sector were frowned upon at the time, but she defied all odds and received numerous awards, including the UN’s highest environmental honour, the Sustainability Champion of the Year award, in 2019.

She is regarded as one of the most influential female architects in the world, with over 1200 projects to her credit, including the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Chennai, Silver Falls Resort in Kodaikanal, and Mahindra World City.

9. Chitra Vishwanath 

Chitra Vishwanath is a Bangalore-based architect who has combined ecology and architecture to create stunning structures throughout India and the world.

She is the CEO of the reputable BIOME Environment Solutions Private Limited, which focuses on earthen architecture and has built on Laurie Baker’s legacy.

Chitra has received recognition for over 500 projects. She also built her own mud house in Bangalore, which includes unique features such as rain-water harvesting well and is naturally ventilated with the help of trees.

Spastics Society of Karnataka, Yellow Train, Hornbill House, Ekalavya and Govardhan Eco Village, are some of her major works.

10. Bijoy Jain

Bijoy Jain is another well-known Indian architect who has gained international acclaim for his outstanding projects.

Bijoy Jain moved to Mumbai after working in Los Angeles and London and established his architectural firm, Studio Mumbai. His company is well-known for its aesthetic and out-of-the-box concepts and designs.

His major works in Mumbai include Utsav House, Bamboo MP Pavillion and Tara House.

He also received the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture in 2009 and is a visiting architecture professor at Yale University.