Giancarlo De Carlo and Balkrishna Doshi: A Dialogue Between Cultures and Participation in Architecture

In the post-war architectural debate, tensions emerged between modernist universalism and the need for local, participatory approaches. Within this context, Giancarlo De Carlo and Balkrishna Doshi stood out as figures who reinterpreted modernism through dialogue and engagement. De Carlo, a member of Team 10, promoted user participation, as seen in the colleges of Urbino. Doshi, trained by Le Corbusier, redefined modernist principles through Indian traditions, as exemplified in Aranya Housing and Sangath. Their visions intersected in the International Laboratory of Architecture and Urban Design (ILAUD), fostering a cross-cultural discourse. This article reflects on their legacy through a dialogue between Sandro (S), a student of De Carlo and Doshi’s collaborator, and Rajeev (R), partner architect in Doshi’s studio, showing how their work shaped architecture as an ethical, inclusive, and evolving practice. R: “That’s their lasting legacy—an architecture that acts as a bridge between different worlds. They remind us that the most meaningful design solutions emerge from an open dialogue between the past and the present, the local and the global.” This article critically examines their contributions, highlighting their commitment to redefining architecture as an intercultural and participatory practice.