shirish beri
It is very difficult, almost impossible for shirish beri to separate and isolate anything that he does in life (especially architecture) from the comprehensive totality of life. For him, the essence is the way we understand and live ‘life’.
That is why, he wanted to take a break after third year of his architectural studies at CEPT, Ahmedabad — to explore, introspect and find out more about ‘life’ and its relation to architecture as well his other pursuits in life. This desire initiated his solitary travels every year for six to eight weeks during the vacation financed by his earnings at his father’s office. There was so much learning during this period – – sleeping on the rocks, beaches, park, benches, in temple etc. Observing, meditating, reading, writing, sketching, re-examining, reassessing himself, his journey in life and so on.
Even after graduating with good grades in 1974, he wanted to experiment more by working at Auroville, and later on a potato farm and a bakery. This very attitude saw him refuse his father’s offer to go and do his M.Arch at Harvard or M.I.T. in the U.S.A. He felt that after studying architecture for 6 years, it was necessary to uncondition oneself and unlearn rather than spend two years learning for a masters degree in a different context. He used that travel money to build a small cottage on the edge of the western ghats to work in and live a simple solitary life amidst nature. To do so, he refused partnership with his father and brother in their architectural firm.
His Work
Ar. shirish beri’s works, which tend to reflect his values and concerns in life have been bearing their distinct mark on modern Indian architecture since 1975. They strive to address his life concerns of man moving further away from nature, from his fellow human beings and from his own self.
Through his work, shirish beri probes the multisensory and the immeasurable dimension of space while trying to evoke a reflective pause amidst today’s clutter and background noise. He feels that issues of sustainability can be aptly addressed only through the right attitudes and goals. His designs try to achieve an inherent sense of unity and harmony with various natural and man-made elements and forces.
He has designed a number of campuses for national & regional level institutions for research, rehabilitation, health care and education, along with various other types of buildings.
Academics and Presentations
A Fellow of the I.I.A. & I.I.I.D, he has been invited to chair and give talks, slide shows and conduct design workshops in various professional organizations, colleges of architecture in India and abroad. He has also acted as a jury member on important architectural competitions.
He was invited to speak in these cities outside India
-
Australia - Sydney, Launceston,
Canberra and Melbourne - Bangladesh - Dhaka
- China - Guangzhou and Shanghai
- Estonia - Tallin
- France - Paris
- Germany - Berlin
- Iran - Tehran
- Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur
- Norway - Bergen
- Singapore
- Srilanka - Colombo
- Sweden - Goteborg and Ekilstonia
- Taiwan - Taipei and Taichung
- Turkey - Istanbul
- U.K. - Liverpool
- U.S.A. - Princeton University
- Vietnam - Hanoi
He was invited to speak in these cities in India
- Ahmedabad
- Aurangabad
- Bangalore
- Baroda
- Belgaum
- Bhubaneshwar
- Chandigarh
- Chennai
- Coimbatore
- Delhi
- Dombivli
- Gangtok
- Goa
- Gwallior
- Hubli
- Hyderabad
- Ichalkaranji
- Indore
- Jaipur
- Jalgaon
- Jammu
- Karad
- Kolhapur
- Kolkata
- Kollam
- Lucknow
- Mumbai
- Mysore
- Nagpur
- Nasik
- Palakkad
- Patna
- Pune
- Rajkot
- Sangli
- Sholapur
- Surat
- Thane
- Tumkur
He has spoken more than once in most of the cities. A number of online interviews, presentations
happened in recent years for C.O.A., I.I.A., I.I.I.D., N.A.S.A., Acedge, Upenn-USA, Milan polytechnic,
ARCASIA annual conference, Shanghai and at many other national, international forums.
Publications
Ar. shirish beri’s work, interviews and articles have been published in
- 7 international books
- 10 international periodicals
- over 160 articles in 26 Indian books & 47 Indian periodicals
which include four books written by him.
Exhibitions
Two very special extensive exhibitions of his work and poems called A search for wholeness and Urmi – the inspiration have toured various cities in India and abroad.
His works have also been included in various important exhibitions such as :
- 50 Years of Indian Architecture & Planning
- Japan design foundation
- Cityscape, Architectural Review exhibition
- Indian architect & builder's exhibition "Design directions"
- "State of Architecture" at NGMA, Mumbai
- London Design Biennale 2021.
Films
- shirish beri’s 12 minute & 25 minute film “The Unfolding White” has won the International jury award at “Ekotop film festival” in Europe in 2007. “Shunyarang” is it’s Marathi version.
- He has made a 29 minute documentary film “ Uru– the space” that explores the various tangible and intangible manifestations of space. The main objective of this film is to create a better understanding as well as improved sensitivity about “Space”. “Uru - avakash” is it’s Marathi version.
- His work has been filmed for a special Television serial- Nature+ by RA Vision, Delhi and for other channels.
- His work has also appeared on various online portals.
He has also tried to find expression through, poetry, painting and sketching.
Major Recognitions
Ar. shirish beri has won a number of national – international recognitions.
Some of them are :
- Great Master’s award for 26th JK AYA 2017. Only one architect from 12 countries is selected for this award once in every three years for his/her important contribution to architecture. It is kind of the highest architectural award in India and its neighboring countries.
- Indian institute of architects’ highest honour – “Baburao Mhatre gold medal” 2021-22 for his lifetime contribution to Indian architecture. Only one Indian architect is conferred with this award, every two years.
- 'Architecture+Design & CERA Awards' 2014 - “The hall of fame award”. Only one Indian architect is elected/voted to receive this award for his lifetime work.
- Arcasia gold medal 2009-2010 for the best designed public-institutional building in Asia.
- Arcasia gold medal 2017 for the best designed single family residence in Asia.
- Two of his projects were nominated for the prestigious 2010 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
- 8th International Design competition, Japan - 1996 his was the only Indian entry to bag one of the prizes awarded to outstanding works from the 1021 entries from over sixty countries.
- Cityscape + Architectural review award 2006 at Dubai –selected in the best three institutional buildings from 260 worldwide entries
- Achievers in architecture & design award - Indian architectural & design festival 2011.
- He was selected as one of India's top 10 architects for the CW Architect & Builder awards 2011 & 2015.
- He received the readers’ choice “Indexcellence award” 2018 in the sustainable design category.
- Society Interiors & Durian's "Outstanding contribution to architecture award 2011"
- Hindware Archidesign “Architect of the year award – 2006” from 270 Indian entries
- The J. K. Architect of the year - Commendation Award 1995 for residence design
- Special mention A+D spectrum award’ 06.
- “Grohe NDTV – Design & Architecture award 2015” - Jury commendation award for the Environmental design category.
- “Vasundhara sanman 2015” at the Vasundhara International film festival (of films on environment) for his environmentally conscious work.
- The international jury award at the “Ekotop film festival – 2007” in Europe for his documentary film “The Unfolding White” from over 200 sustainable development films from all over the world.
- He was nominated for the prestigious Parvin fellowship at the Woodrow Wilson school of public affairs, Princeton University, U.S.A. in 1980.
- He is also the recipient of the “Vastu Ratna award” for his professional work during the last four decades.
- He was felicitated as the “Icon of Kolhapur” by the IIID president and COA ex-president.
- His entire work, sketches, publications etc. are being documented to be archived for life in the C.E.P.T. archives.
Personal
Love of nature, solitude, meditation, philosophy – yoga, photog¬raphy, all arts, writing poetry, painting, films, gardening, farming, deep ecology – with a live experiment of creating a balanced ecosystem at his farm . Widely travelled to around 40 countries and to remote corners of India.
