3. LAURIE BAKER WAS AN AWARD-WINNING BRITISH-BORN INDIAN ARCHITECT, RENOWNED
FORHIS INITIATIVES IN COST-EFFECTIVE ENERGY-EFFICIENT ARCHITECTURE AND FORHIS
UNIQUE SPACE UTILIZATION AND SIMPLE BUT BEAUTIFUL AESTHETIC SENSIBILITY. IN TIME
HE MADE A NAME FORHIMSELF BOTH IN SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AS WELL AS
IN ORGANIC ARCHITECTURE.
HE WENT TO INDIA IN 1945 IN PART AS A MISSIONARY AND SINCE THEN LIVED AND
WORKED IN INDIA FOR OVER50 YEARS. HE OBTAINED INDIAN CITIZENSHIP IN 1989 AND
RESIDED IN TRIVANDRUM, KERALA, SINCE 1970, WHERE HE LATER SET UP AN
ORGANIZATION CALLED COSTFORD (CENTRE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FORRURAL
DEVELOPMENT), FOR SPREADING AWARENESS FORLOW COST HOUSING.
4. • BAKERSTUDIED ARCHITECTUREAT BIRMINGHAMINSTITUTE OF
ART AND DESIGNAND GRADUATED IN 1937,AGE 20.
• HISINITIAL COMMITMENT TO INDIA HADHIMWORKINGAS AN
ARCHITECTFOR WORLDLEPROSYMISSION, AN INTERNATIONAL
AND INTERDENOMINATIONAL MISSION DEDICATED TO THE
CAREOFTHOSESUFFERING FROMLEPROSY IN1945.
• AS NEW MEDICINES FOR THE TREATMENT OF THE DISEASE WERE BECOMING MOREPREVALENT, HIS
RESPONSIBILITIES WERE FOCUSED ONCONVERTINGOR REPLACING ASYLUMS ONCEUSED TOHOUSE
THE OSTRACIZEDSUFFERERS OF THE DISEASE - "LEPERS".
5. BAKERFOUND HISENGLISHCONSTRUCTIONEDUCATIONTOBE INADEQUATE FORTHE
TYPESOF ISSUESANDMATERIALS HE HAS FACEDWITHTERMITESANDTHE EARLY
MONSOONASWELL ASLATERITECOWDUNGANDMUD WALLS
BAKERHADNOCHOICEBUT TOOBSERVEANDLEARNFROM THE METHODSAND
PRACTICESOF THE VERNACULARARCHITECTURE.
HE SOONLEARNEDTHATTHE INDIGENOUSARCHITECTUREANDMETHODSOF THESE
PLACESWEREINFACTTHE ONLY VIABLEMEANSTO DEALWITH HISONCE DAUNTING
PROBLEMS.
INSPIREDBY HIS DISCOVERIESHE BEGANTO TURNHIS STYLEOF ARCHITECTURETOWARDS
ONETHAT RESPECTEDTHE ACTUALCULTUREANDNEEDSOF THOSEWHO WOULD
ACTUALLYUSEHIS BUILDINGS,RATHERTHAN JUSTPLAYINGTO THE MORE
"MODERNISTIC"TUNESOF HIS PAYINGCLIENTS.
6. 1938 ASSOCIATE OFTHEROYALINSTITUTE OFBRITISH
ARCHITECTS.
1970 FELLOW OFINDIAN INSTITUTE OFARCHITECTS
1983 MEMBEROF BRITISHEMPIRE.
1987 FIRST INDIAN NATIONAL HABITAT AWARD
1989 I.I.A. MEDAL FOROUTSTANDING ARCHITECTOF THEYEAR
1990 GREAT MASTERS ARCHITECTOFTHE YEAR.
PADMA SHREE
1992 U.N.O. HABITATSAWARD
U.N. ROLLOF HONOR
1993 INTERNATIONAL UNION OFARCHITECTS(I.U.A.) AWARD
1994 PEOPLE OF THEYEAR AWARD
I.I.A. BABU RAO MAITRE GOLDMEDAL
1995 DOCTORATEOFUNIVERSITY OFCENTRAL ENGLAND.
2003 BASHEERPURASKARAM.
7. “ A SITEIS IDEAL ONLY INTHE UNDISTURBEDNATURALSTATEAND A BUILDING
MUSTRENEWAND REINFORCETHE ORIGINALSITE CONDITIONSINORDER TOBE
ACCOMMODATED”
“ THE ARCHITECTURESHOULD MERGE WITH THE SURROUNDINGLANDSCAPE,
RATHERTHAN STANDINGOUT.ITSHOULD NOTBE IN COMPETITIONWITHTHE
NATURE,BUTIN HARMONYWITHIT”
“ THE ARCHITECTUREAT A PLACE SHOULD BE RESPONSIVETO THE CLIMATE,
CONTEXTAND THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES– ITSHOULD BE FORTHE PEOPLE, THEIR
NEEDS AND HOPES, IRRESPECTIVEOFTREND ORSTYLE".
“ THE OUTERFORM ALONE IS MEANINGLESS, ITHAS TOBE COMPLEMENTED OR
OVERSHADOWED BYTHE INNERCONTENTSSINCE, THE SPATIALEXPERIENCE OF AN
INHABITANTIS MORE IMPORTANTTHAN PUREVISUAL FORMS”.
8.
9. ALWAYS STUDY YOUR SITE , SOIL, TOPOGRAPHY, WATER CLIMATE &
NEIGHBOURS (NOISY TEMPLES, SMELLY FACTORIES, ETC.)
SEE POTENTIAL SERVICES – WATER, DRAINAGE,ACCESS, POWER, FUEL,
PHONE, ETC. IF NOT POSSIBLE OR AVAILABLE,WHAT WILL YOU DO?
EVERY BUILDING SHOULD BE UNIQUE NO TWO PEOPLE, OR FAMILIESETC.
ARE ALIKE, SO WHY SHOULD THEIR HOMES ALLBETHE SAME?
STUDY & KNOW LOCAL MATERIALS– THEIR AVAILABILITY,PERFORMANCE,
COSTS, TECHNIQUES & WORKMEN WHO KNOW HOW TO USE THEM.
MAKE COST-EFFICIENCY YOUR WAY OF LIFE – NOT MERELY “LOW COST
FOR THE POOR”. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH.
10. ONE OF HIS INFLUENCESHAS BEENMAHATMA GANDHI, FOR
HIMPROPER DEVELOPMENTCAN BEDONE IF RAW MATERIAL IS
BROUGHTFROMA PLACE IN A RANGEOF 5-10 KMS.
HE CRITICIZEDTHE WORKSOF LE CORBUSIER,HIS STRUCTURES
WERECHARACTERLESS. LAURIE BAKER’SARCHITECTUREWAS A
CONTEMPORARY VERSION OF THE VERNACULAR.
ANOTHER INSPIRATION FOR HIMHAS BEENORDINARY MEN.
11. A MAN WITHOUT BORDERS
THE MAINCHARACTERISTICSOF BAKER
ARCHITECTUREISTHAT “SMALLISNOT ONLY
BEAUTIFULBUT ISOFTENESSENTIALANDEVEN
MOREIMPORTANT
THAN LARGESTRUCTURES”
12. THROUGHOUTHIS PRACTICE,BAKER BECAME WELL KNOWN
FORDESIGNING AND BUILDING LOW COST,HIGH
QUALITY,BEAUTIFULHOMES,WITH A GREAT PORTION
OF HISWORK SUITED TOOR BUILT FOR LOWER-MIDDLETO
LOWER CLASSCLIENTS.
HE DEVISEDHIS OWNSTYLETHAT HADHIS
SIGNATUREOF STRUCTURALHONESTY, DESIGN
INTEGRITYANDSUSTAINING QUALITY.HIS
WORKSAREANACTOF INITIATIONFROM
WITHINNOTOF INSTIGATION.
14. • HE DESIGNSEVERY HOUSEGIVINGMINUTE
DETAILSTOALL THE CHARACTERSOF EACH
PERSONLIVINGINTHATHOUSE.FOR
EXAMPLEHE DESIGNANOPENINGOF BRICK
WORKFOR THE PET INTHAT HOUSE.INTHE
GIVENPICTUREWECANSEEADOGCRANING
ITSNECKTHROUGH THE OPENINGANDGETS
A0.GOODVIEWOF THE SURROUNDINGS.
15. ANOTHERSIGNIFICANTBAKER FEATUREIS IRREGULAR, PYRAMID-LIKE
STRUCTURESON ROOFS,WITH ONESIDELEFT OPENAND TILTINGINTO
THE WIND.
BAKER'S DESIGNSINVARIABLY HAVE
TRADITIONALINDIANSLOPING ROOFS
AND TERRACOTTAMANGALORE TILE
SHINGLING WITH GABLES AND VENTS
ALLOWING RISINGHOT AIR TO ESCAPE.
16. THE DESIGNOF THE CENTREFOR DEVELOPMENT
STUDIESDEMONSTRATESHOW BAKERISABLETO
TRANSFORMVERNACULARARCHITECTURETO
SUITTHE REQUIREMENTSOF AMODERN
ACADEMICINSTITUION.
THISBUILDINGCONSISTSOF ALL THE ELEMENTS
CHARACTERISTICOF BAKER’SSTYLE :-
THE JALIS
THE TRADITIONALROOFS
THE STEPPEDARCHES
THE OVERHANGINGEAVES
THE SKYLIGHTS
17. FILLER SLAB :
– 20-35% LESS MATERIALS
– DECORATIVE, ECONOMICAL & REDUCED SELF-LOAD
– ALMOST MAINTENANCE FREE
– 25-30% COSTREDUCTION
JACK ARCH :
– ENERGY SAVING & ECO-FRIENDLY COMPRESSIVE ROOFING.
– DECORATIVE &HIGHLY ECONOMICAL
– MAINTENANCE FREE
MASONRY DOME :
– ENERGY SAVING ECO-FRIENDLY COMPRESSIVE ROOF.
– DECORATIVE &HIGHLY ECONOMICAL FOR LARGES SPANS.
– MAINTENANCE FREE
FUNICULAR SHELL :
– ENERGY SAVING ECO-FRIENDLY COMPRESSIVE ROOF.
– DECORATIVE &ECONOMICAL
– MAINTENANCE FREE
MASONRY ARCHES :
– TRADITIONAL SPANNING SYSTEM.
– HIGHLY DECORATIVE & ECONOMICAL
– LESS ENERGY REQUIREMENT.
18. BAKER’S ARCHITECTURAL CREATIONS EXPANDS FROMA REMARKABLY
VARIED SPECTRUM OF PROJECTS RANGING FROMFISHERMEN’S VILLAGES
TO INSTITUTIONAL COMPLEXES & FROM LOW COST MUD HOUSING
SCHEMES TO LOW COST CATHEDRALS.
HIS WORKS INCLUDE FORTYCHURCHES, NUMEROUS
SCHOOLS, INSTITUTIONS,RESIDENCES & HOSPITALS
19. WORKS
The Hamlet (his residence)
Fishermen’s village
Centre for Development Studies, Ulloor
Loyola Chapel and Auditorium, 1971, Sreekaryam
Leprosy homes for Mission to Lepers across India
Pithoragarh house, school and hospital complex
Allahabad Agricultural University
Loyola Women’s Hostel, 1970, Sreekaryam
Neetas House
HUDCO Suresh
International Leprosy Mission, Faizabad
22. • Key features of his house are:
All the walls are made of mud bricks.
Timber salvaged from anold boat jetty
One of the other signature elements of his design includes the use of
circular walls,which use far less brickthan rectangular walls.
In addition, when he does use concrete for a roof, he embeds chipped
or broken terra cotta roofing tiles into the mixture.
THE HAMLET
23. These tiles, which normally would be thrown away, contribute to the strength of the roof, allow less of
the expensive concreteto be used, and reducethe structural load of the building.
Heused broken tiles for the outer pavedarea of his garden.
The living room, An integration of new building and salvaged timber from traditional buildings that were
being demolished.
Baker's innovative use of discarded bottles, inset in the walls giving a very good effect of light and
creating anillusion of stained glass.
25. STEPS LEADING UP TO
FRONT DOOR A VIEWFROM THEOPPOSITE
SIDE
STEPS DIRECTLY CUT IN ROCK
26. ENTRANCE HAS SMALL
SITTING AREA FORGUESTS
THE WALL IS DECORATED
FROMBROKEN POTTERY,
PENS, GLASS
A CALLING BELL FOR
VISITORS TO ANNOUNCE
THEIR PRESENCE
33. CHALLENGES:
Severity of environment in which the tribal's live.
Limitation of resources
Conventional architects stayed away from these projects
Dealing with large insular groups, with set ideas and traditions.
Dealing with cyclones
FISHERMEN’S VILLAGE
POONTHURA ,TRIVANDRUM(1974-75)
Area of each unit : 25 sqm
35. • Low sloped roofs and courts serve as wind catchers
• Open walls functionto dispel it
• Long row of housingreplaced by even staggering
• Frontingcourts catch the breeze and also get view of sea
DealingWith Cyclones:
36. • Little private rectangle of land in between houses for drying nets , kids
play,
• Provides sleeping lofts within and adequate space outside for mending
nets and cleaning and drying fish
OpenSpaces
39. CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
ULLOOR, TRIVANDRUM, 1971
Themostimportantprojectof baker’scareer.The
significanceofthis assignmenthadless todowithsize
andbudget,thanwiththeidea ofexhibiting arange of
conceptsappliedto buildings ofvaryingfunctions,
scale anddimensions. Anareaofnine acres
accommodatesadministrativeoffices, acomputer
centre,anamphi-theatre,a library,classrooms,
housing andothercomponentsofaninstitutional
design.
The Computer centre, Centre for
Development Studies, Here Baker evolved aninnovative
system ofcurved double walls tosave on cost andto
conserve the energy that goes into airconditioning a
building of this scale andpurpose
