Architect Padma Bhushan B V Doshi calls for an inclusive built environment
Ahmedabad : Architect Padma Bhushan gives the keynote address at a convocation ceremony of Anant National University in Ahmedabad today. On the occasion of the World Architecture Day, Anant National University, India’s first design university, organised its 3rd Convocation Ceremony on 4th October 2021, in Ahmedabad. India’s first Pritzker Prize Laureate B V Doshi who has inspired generations of architects with his exemplary award-winning projects such as Aranya Low-cost Housing in Indore, IIM Bangalore and Udaipur, CEPT University, Amdavad ni Gufa, among others graced the occasion with his presence as the chief guest along with students, faculty members and dignitaries.
Renowned architect B V Doshi marked the need for a dream to discover and create a more inclusive built habitat at a community and global level that will give meaning and joy to the existence of everyone. He congratulated all the graduates and asked them to envision and celebrate a holistic life.
Dr Anunaya Chaubey, Provost of Anant National University, congratulated the fresh graduates and imparted advice on bringing sanity and health into the built environment in the post-pandemic world. He advised students to take inspiration from B V Doshi’s creations, thinking and teachings and learn to integrate their roots, traditions, concern for the community and nature with sustainable contemporary technologies and practices and offer contextual solutions.
More than 300 graduates from Anant Fellowship, School of Architecture, School of Design and the first batch of Anant Fellowship for Climate Action were conferred with degrees this year. The event, organised in blended mode, was attended by 162 graduates physically on campus and 141 students joined the ceremony online. Friends, family and well-wishers of the graduating students participated in the convocation ceremony through live streaming on the university’s YouTube channel.
In wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the university has ensured to follow all the protocols and made it mandatory for all students attending the convocation ceremony to be vaccinated with both doses of vaccine.
In its journey of 5 years, University has established itself as one of the best design institutions in the country with its unique approach to design education. At present, the university offers seven programmes including undergraduate programmes in Design and Architecture, postgraduate programmes in Integrated Product Design and Urban Design and Development, Anant Fellowship in Built Environment and Anant Fellowship in Climate Action, and the newly launched Research Masters-PhD in Built Environment, Design Excellence and Creative Practice. Recently, the university has also launched a 7-day certificate course in Designing Affordable Housing and a year-long course titled Entrepreneurs in Residence programme.