WASHINGTON: Balkrishna Doshi, the well-known Indian architect who designs not just buildings but institutions, is honored with the Pritzker Architecture Prize which is the Nobel equivalent for the field, it was declared on Wednesday.

 President Ramnath Kovind took his official twitor handle and greeted the legendary architect as saying, “Congratulations to Balkrishna Doshi for becoming the first Indian to be awarded the Pritzker Prize, the premier global award for architecture. Dr Doshi’s contributions to our cityscape, our sense of aesthetics and to low-cost housing efforts make us proud.”

Born in Pune Doshi, 90, is the first Indian to get the honor, the highest in the line of work. Previous winners are world-renowned architects like Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, IM Pei, and Shigeru Ban.

"Over the years, Balkrishna Doshi has always created an architecture that is serious, never flashy or a follower of trends. With a deep sense of responsibility and a desire to contribute to his country and its people through high quality, authentic architecture, he has created projects for public administrations and utilities, educational and cultural institutions, and residences for private clients, among others," the Pritzker jury said in its declaration as quoted By TOI.

A student of the JJ School of Architecture in Mumbai, Doshi had worked with the renowned Le Corbusier in Paris in the 1950 before returning to India to take charge of the architect's projects. He established his studio Vastu-Shilpa (environmental design) in 1955.  He also worked with Louis Kahn and Anant Raje in designing the campus of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. Apart from this IIMs in Bangalore and Lucknow, the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Tagore Memorial Hall, the Institute of Indology in Ahmedabad, among other fine campuses and buildings across India which is designed by Doshi.

Doshi is also recognized as an institution builder as he is the first founder Director of the School of Architecture, Ahmedabad, first founder Director of the School of Planning, first founder Dean of the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology, founder member of the Visual Arts Centre, Ahmedabad and first founder Director of the Kanoria Centre for Arts, Ahmedabad.