The Doshi Retreat is located at the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany. The Vitra Campus is an exceptional site that unites industrial production with contemporary architecture and design culture. It showcases an iconic collection of buildings by world-renowned architects including Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Tadao Ando, and Herzog & de Meuron.
In 2020, Rolf Fehlbaum, Chairman Emeritus of Vitra, and Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi, one of the pioneers of modern architecture in India, discussed the possibilities of a collaboration for the Vitra Campus. Mr. Fehlbaum recalls: “I showed Balkrishna Doshi the photo of a small shrine I had seen in India and asked him whether he would be willing to design a place of contemplation for the campus.” Balkrishna Doshi accepted the proposal, and the vision for what would become the Doshi Retreat emerged through an intimate dialogue between Doshi, his granddaughter Khushnu and her husband Sönke Hoof. The Doshi Retreat is the first project by Balkrishna Doshi to be completed outside India – as well as the last design he worked on prior to his passing in 2023. He was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2018.
A multisensory voyage through the landscape
The Doshi Retreat involves two intertwined paths embedded in the landscape of the campus, leading to a room featuring a large gong. Inspired by the principles of Hindu philosophy, this space invites visitors on a multisensory journey, the pathways guiding the guests through an immersive landscape of sound, vibration, and visual symbolism. At the heart of the experience is a gong that plays automatically, sending resonant tones along the paths. These sounds are carefully tuned to represent the chakras, the ancient Hindu spiritual energy centres within the body. In the gong room, visitors will look up to find a hand-crafted mandala from India decorating the ceiling, a circular symbol of wholeness, harmony, and the universe.
Khushnu Panthaki Hoof explained: “This architecture was born from a dream Doshi had of two interweaving cobras. From this subconscious vision emerged a written narrative, followed by a sketched concept composed of notes and evocations. It then evolved into an invitation to embark on a journey of discovery.” Designed for small groups, the experience encourages exploration, introspection, and a sense of getting pleasantly “lost.” It’s a voyage meant to awaken curiosity and spark inspiration and leave visitors with a lasting feeling of joy and wonder.