The Doshi Architecture Retreat on the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein is a contemplative sanctuary conceived and designed collaboratively by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Balkrishna Doshi, his granddaughter Khushnu Panthaki Hoof, and her husband Sönke Hoof. Drawing inspiration from Indian spirituality and the meditative qualities of sound and silence, the retreat offers a sensory journey through space, light, and resonance and a place for solitude, reflection, and transformation.
The project was born from a conversation between Rolf Fehlbaum, Chairman Emeritus of Vitra, and Balkrishna Doshi, following Fehlbaum’s visit to the Modhera Sun Temple in India. Moved by a small shrine he encountered there, Fehlbaum invited Doshi to imagine a place of contemplation for the Vitra Campus.
Doshi embraced the idea, and what followed was an intimate creative dialogue between Doshi, Khushnu, and Sönke, through which the Doshi Retreat gradually took form. Conceived together as an architectural narrative of movement and awakening, the project became Doshi’s, Khushnu’s & Sönke’s first realized work outside India and the last project that Doshi worked on before his passing in January 2023. Unfolding as a winding, descending path, the retreat invites both physical and metaphysical exploration. Visitors move along curving walls that hum with subtle sounds of gong and flute, evoking a sense of inward transition.
According to Khushnu Panthaki Hoof, ‘During the design process, we explored several iterations of the pathway and model. One version featured two intertwined paths, which reminded Doshi of a dream he once had of two interweaving cobras. Intuitively, Sönke and I took this as a sign and developed the design further around that idea.
For us, the vision of the cobras symbolized renewal and transformation, themes that resonated with the spirit of the retreat. The intertwined paths thus became both a spatial and symbolic expression of awakening and renewal, guiding visitors on a journey of discovery.
The soundscape, integrated through concealed acoustic recesses, accompanies the visitor through the pathway and culminates in a circular contemplation chamber. Within this organically shaped space, a rainwater basin, two semicircular stone benches, and a central gong create a meditative atmosphere. Light filters through an aperture in the ceiling, reflecting from a hand-hammered brass mandala crafted in India, casting delicate patterns across the space.
The structure is crafted from forged and formed XCarb® steel, an innovative, low-emissions material generously donated by ArcelorMittal. Its warm, evolving patina harmonizes with the natural landscape, while the sinuous geometry encourages shifting perspectives and sensory.
The retreat embodies the process of awakening and ascension through sound and movement. As Khushnu notes, “Sound resonates through the body, dissolving the boundary between self and structure. The building itself becomes an instrument that is alive, responsive, and transformative.”
The architects deliberately refrained from assigning the B.V. Doshi Architecture Retreat a singular label. It stands instead as an open-ended space for contemplation, inviting solitude, disorientation, and encounter, a journey that mirrors the unseen dimensions of being. Through their shared vision, Balkrishna Doshi, Khushnu Panthaki Hoof, and Sönke Hoof have given form to an experience that transcends architecture: a haven of stillness and spiritual resonance within the evolving landscape of the Vitra Campus.
Fact File
Designed by: Balkrishna Doshi & Khushnu Panthaki Hoof & Sonke Hoof
Project Type: Landscape Architecture & Cultural Architecture Design
Project Name: Doshi Retreat Vitra Campus
Location: Weil am Rhein, Germany
Year Built: 2025
Principal Architects: Balkrishna Doshi & Khushnu Panthaki Hoof & Sonke Hoof
Team Design Credits: Christian Germadnik, Abel Rodrigues , Aysha Nargees, Jerin Pannakel, Shivam Singh, Antorip Chaudhary, Rodolfo, Lucia Andres, Devraj Patel, Sanjana Appachu
Photograph Courtesy: Julien Lanoo, Marek Iwicki, Dejan Jovanovic
Firm: Studio Sangath
Structural Engineer: Jan Knippers, Valentine Vagner
Light Consultant: Licht kunst Licht
Sound Team: Paul Oomen, Hans & Aurelio
Contractor: Jenich, Oestestaal
X Carb Steel Provided By: Arcelor Mittal
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Website Link: Balkrishna Doshi & Khushnu Panthaki Hoof & Sonke Hoof
Firm’s Instagram Link: Balkrishna Doshi & Khushnu Panthaki Hoof & Sonke Hoof
For Similar Project >>>
Conceived as a dialogue between architecture and landscape in Alibag, CASAVIVA transforms the house into a sequence of spaces where nature becomes an integral part of everyday life. This Home In Alibag Is Conceived As A Dialogue Between Architecture & Landscape | SHROFFLEoN Design Brief Designed for a family seeking a calm and timeless residence, […]
Some homes begin with a drawing, and The Saffron Verandah began with an orchard. In the mango-growing landscapes of Shoolagiri, a quiet hamlet in northern Tamil Nadu, the land has settled into its own rhythm over generations. Rows of mature mango trees stretch across nearly three-quarters of an acre, their broad canopies tempering the southern […]
The house is conceived as a metaphor for the valley it inhabits. The design borrows the language of a bustling street skyline, stretching the home along a corner site so it frames the valley and its lake. Three linear bays, offset vertically and linked by corridors, open the plan to filtered western light and cross […]
The site is located in Ahilyanagar town of Maharashtra, with a design brief of 7,000 sq feet, while the house had to be designed for the hot and dry climate, which responds carefully to extreme temperatures, intense sunlight, and low humidity. The design focuses on reducing heat gain, improving natural ventilation, and creating comfortable indoor spaces with […]
“Pravah” — A House That Breathes is envisioned as the main concept of this home revolves around a fluid, light-filled home where architecture becomes a continuous experience of movement, air, and connection. Located in Pal Gamtal, Surat, the project is a residential redevelopment on a 1,850 sq.ft. plot within a dense urban fabric. The site, […]
Editor’s Note: There’s a quiet clarity in homes that are shaped by real, everyday needs. Alcove feels like a thoughtful response to just that, balancing openness with comfort in a setting rooted in tradition. Moving away from a dense, older home, this residence embraces light, air, and simplicity while still holding on to its Kerala […]
Timeless architectural features, such as courtyards, are always associated with bringing the naturally public forms to the world’s heart, building the most peaceful, secluded outdoor areas. These outdoor spaces maximize the living experience with their private space feature, which gives one the option for leisurely relaxation, recreation, or gardening. Furthermore, it has also been a […]
Architecture font choices go beyond style—they shape how your work is perceived. From portfolios to presentations, the right architecture font instantly communicates clarity, precision, and personality. As architects, we design not just with space but with every detail, including typography. Selecting a strong architecture font shows your commitment to visual storytelling and design consistency. In […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]
Plants for home garden, apart from making houses look more beautiful and inviting, add health and calmness to them. Having any kind of indoor plant, a herb plant or a flowering plant adds some value to your decor and the quality of the space. Always choose plants that will flourish in your space and climate. […]