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Who is Bimal Patel?
Bimal Hasmukh Patel is a Gujarat-based architect, urbanist and academician who is the mastermind behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government’s Central Vista project. Patel heads the HCP Design Planning and Management Private Limited, an architecture firm which is designing the new Parliament building, Central Vista Avenue, and allied buildings and spaces.
Early life and Education
Patel was born on 31 August 1961 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. His father Hasmukh Chandulal Patel was an established architect who founded the HCP firm in 1960. Bimal Patel studied Architecture at the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), Ahmedabad, in 1984 and completed his Master's degree in Architecture and City Planning in 1988. He received a PhD in City and Regional Planning in 1995 from the University of California, Berkeley.
Career
Patel started his career in 1990 in Ahmedabad. He won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1992 for designing The Entrepreneurship Development Institute. Over the years he has built several institutions, urban redevelopment sites, and industrial buildings. Some of his significant works include Aga Khan Academy in Hyderabad, Bhuj Development Plan and Town Planning Schemes (post-earthquake), Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi, and Sabarmati Riverfront Development in Ahmedabad.
In 1996, Patel founded the Environmental Planning Collaborative (EPC), a not-for-profit organization in Ahmedabad. EPC focused on research, advocacy, training and publications related to planning and urban policy.
Patel is said to be in good books with PM Modi. He was given the project to develop Kankaria lakefront by Modi 2005 who was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat. This was followed by Swarnim Sankul in 2011 which housed the CM’s office and cabinet, the Gujarat High Court, the Indian Institute of Management’s new campus in Ahmedabad, and the Ahmedabad airport terminal.
Patel has won numerous awards for his work including, World Architecture Award in 2001, Prime Ministerʼs National Award for Excellence in Urban Planning and Design in 2002, and UNCHS’ Best Practices Award in 1998. He was also awarded Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in 2019.
Patel has also been heading CEPT University -where he studied- as its President since 2012.
Early life and Education
Patel was born on 31 August 1961 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. His father Hasmukh Chandulal Patel was an established architect who founded the HCP firm in 1960. Bimal Patel studied Architecture at the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), Ahmedabad, in 1984 and completed his Master's degree in Architecture and City Planning in 1988. He received a PhD in City and Regional Planning in 1995 from the University of California, Berkeley.
Career
Patel started his career in 1990 in Ahmedabad. He won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1992 for designing The Entrepreneurship Development Institute. Over the years he has built several institutions, urban redevelopment sites, and industrial buildings. Some of his significant works include Aga Khan Academy in Hyderabad, Bhuj Development Plan and Town Planning Schemes (post-earthquake), Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi, and Sabarmati Riverfront Development in Ahmedabad.
In 1996, Patel founded the Environmental Planning Collaborative (EPC), a not-for-profit organization in Ahmedabad. EPC focused on research, advocacy, training and publications related to planning and urban policy.
Patel is said to be in good books with PM Modi. He was given the project to develop Kankaria lakefront by Modi 2005 who was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat. This was followed by Swarnim Sankul in 2011 which housed the CM’s office and cabinet, the Gujarat High Court, the Indian Institute of Management’s new campus in Ahmedabad, and the Ahmedabad airport terminal.
Patel has won numerous awards for his work including, World Architecture Award in 2001, Prime Ministerʼs National Award for Excellence in Urban Planning and Design in 2002, and UNCHS’ Best Practices Award in 1998. He was also awarded Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in 2019.
Patel has also been heading CEPT University -where he studied- as its President since 2012.
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