8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
1/66
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
2/66
LIFE HISTORY
(March 2, 1917 April 1, 2007) British-born Indian architect
He went to India in 1945 in part as a missionary and sincethen lived and worked in India for over 50 years
. He obtained Indian citizenship in 1989 and resided inThiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala.
In 1990, the Government of India awarded him with thePadma Shri in recognition of his meritorious service in thefield of architecture.
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
3/66
Baker studied architecture in Birmingham and
graduated in 1937, aged 20, in a period of
political unrest for Europe.
During the Second World War, he served in
the Friends Ambulance Unit in China and
Burma.[1]
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
4/66
CONTRIBUTION TO INDIA
worked as an architect for an international andinterdenominational Mission dedicated to the care of thosesuffering from leprosy.
focused on converting or replacing asylums once used tohouse the ostracized sufferers of the disease - "lepers".
Used indigenous architecture and methods of these places as
means to deal with his once daunting problems.
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
5/66
Initial work
Baker lived in Kerala with Doctor P.J. Chandy,
He received great encouragement and later married
his sister
while Laurie continued his architectural work and
research accommodating the medical needs of thecommunity through his constructions of various
hospitals and clinics.
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
6/66
Baker sought to enrich the culture in which he
participated by promoting simplicity and
home-grown quality in his buildings.
His emphasis on cost-conscious construction,
An ideal that the Mahatma expressed as the
only means to revitalize and liberate an
impoverished India
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
7/66
PRINCIPLES FOLLOWED BY
BAKER THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
8/66
Architectural style
Designing and building low cost, high quality,beautiful homes
Suited to or built for lower-middle to lower classclients.
Irregular, pyramid-like structures on roofs, with oneside left open and tilting into the wind.
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
9/66
Brickjaliwalls, a perforatedbrick screen which utilisesnatural air movement tocool the home's interior andcreate intricate patterns oflight and shadow
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
10/66
Baker's designs invariably have traditional Indiansloping roofs and terracotta Mangalore tile shingling
with gables and vents allowing rising hot air to escape.
Curved walls to enclose more volume at lower materialcost than straight walls,
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
11/66
Baker was often seen rummaging through salvage heapslooking for suitable building materials, door and windowframes.
Baker's architectural method is of improvisation.
Initial drawings have only an idealistic link to the final construction,with most of the accommodations and design choices being madeon-site by the architect himself
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
12/66
His respect for nature led him to let the
idiosyncrasies of a site inform his architectural
improvisations, rarely is a topography line
marred or a tree uprooted.
This saves construction cost as well, since
working around difficult site conditions is
much more cost-effective than clear-cutting
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
13/66
Baker created a cooling system by placing a
high, latticed, brick wall near a pond that uses
air pressure differences to draw cool air
through the building
. His responsiveness to never-identical site
conditions quite obviously allowed for the
variegation that permeates his work.
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
14/66
LOW COST CONSTRUCTION
Filler slab
Jack Arch
Advantages
20-35% Less materials
Decorative, Economical &
Reduced self-load
Almost maintenance free
25-30% Cost Reduction
Advantages
Energy saving & Eco-Friendly
compressive roofing.
Decorative & Highly
Economical
Maintenance free
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
15/66
Masonry DomeAdvantagesEnergy saving eco-friendly compressive roof.
Decorative & Highly Economical for larges spans.Maintenance free
Funnicular shellAdvantagesEnergy saving eco-friendly compressive roof.Decorative & Economical
Maintenance free
LOW COST CONSTRUCTION
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
16/66
Low cost constructions
Masonry Arches
AdvantagesTraditional spanning sytem.
Highly decorative & economical
Less energy requirement.
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
17/66
Awards 1981: D.Litt conferred by the Royal University of
Netherlands for outstanding work in the Third World
1983: Order of the British Empire, MBE
1987: Received the first Indian National Habitat Award
1988: Received Indian Citizenship
1989: Indian Institute of Architects OutstandingArchitect of the Year
1990: Received the Padma Sri
1990: Great Master Architect of the Year
1992: UNO Habitat Award & UN Roll of Honour
1993: International Union of Architects (IUA) Award
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
18/66
1993: Sir Robert Matthew Prize for Improvement of HumanSettlements
1994: People of the Year Award
1995: Awarded Doctorate from the University of Central England
1998: Awarded Doctorate from Sri Venkateshwara University 2001: Coinpar MR Kurup Endowment Award
2003: Basheer Puraskaram
2003: D.Litt from the Kerala University
2005: Kerala Government Certificate of Appreciation
2006: L-Ramp Award of Excellence 2006: Nominated from the Pritzker Prize
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
19/66
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
20/66
The Hamlet
This is Baker's home in Trivandrum.
This is remarkable and unique house built on aplot of land along the slope of a rocky hill,with limited access to water:
However Baker's genius has created awonderful home for his family
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
21/66
Material used from unconventional sources
Family eats in kitchen
Electricity wiring is not concealed
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
22/66
Drawings
GROUND FLOOR
FIRST FLOOR
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
23/66
STEPS LEADING UP TO
FRONT DOOR
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
24/66
A VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITE
SIDE
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
25/66
STEPS DIRECTLY CUT IN ROCK
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
26/66
ENTRANCE HAS SMALL SITTING
AREA FOR GUESTS
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
27/66
THE WALL IS DECORATED
FROM BROKEN POTTERY,PENS, GLASS
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
28/66
A CALLING BELL FOR VISITORS TO ANNOUNCE
THEIR PRESENCE
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
29/66
A MORNING AT HEMLET
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
30/66
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
31/66
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
32/66
USE OF NATURAL LIGHT
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
33/66
USE OF NATURAL LIGHT
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
34/66
INNER COURTYARD CLOSE TO NATURE
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
35/66
NEVER CUT TREES INSTEAD ADAPTED HIS DESIGN ACCORDINGLY
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
36/66
ARCHES LED INTO A BEAUTIFUL
OPEN ROOM
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
37/66
COURTYARD HAS MANYGARDENS AND PONDS
Pitched roof made of
manglore tiles
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
38/66
BAKERS FONDNESS OF
ARCHES
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
39/66
SIMPLE YET BEAUTIFUL
WINDOWS
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
40/66
GABLES FOR PROPER
AIR CIRCULATION AND
VENTILATION
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
41/66
GRILL MADE OF BITS AND PIECES
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
42/66
CONICAL STRUCTURE USED
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
43/66
COST EFFECTIVE BAKERS
WINDOW
Louvered window typical of
bakers type
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
44/66
STAINED GLASS EFFECT
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
45/66
WATER TANK
FOR STORING
RAINHARVESTED
WATER
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
46/66
Mrs Nalini Nayak`s residence
(A Social Worker)Ulloor, Trivandrum (1971)
Requirements:-
Meeting place.
working place (training).
Open spaces.
Classroom & dormitories.
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
47/66
External ViewsGenerous sprawling ground floor with three
floor staking of pentagon
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
48/66
The main house is formed by a simple three-floor stacking of the pentagon on nine-inch-
thick brick walls
internally each floor divides into the bedroom,
bath and landing
The additional segment on the ground, formingthe living/dining and kitchen, is structured withbays of half-brick thickness, alternating walland wall and door
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
49/66
Ground floor plan
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
50/66
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
51/66
2nd Floor Plan
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
52/66
The Entrance
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
53/66
View of entrance from living room
Built
furniture of
bricks
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
54/66
1st floor bedroom entrance.
Common door for entry and
bathroom
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
55/66
Jali walls
Sun light merging
inwards.
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
56/66
Jali window.
2nd floor bedroom.
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
57/66
FISHERMENS VILLAGEPoonthura ,Trivandrum(1974-75)
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
Area of each unit : 25 sqm
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
58/66
Design strategies
Exposed brickwork and structure
Sloped concrete roof
Openness in design and individual units offset eachother
Continuous latticework
in the exposed walls
Construction
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
59/66
Low sloped roofs and courts serve as wind
catchers
Open walls function to dispel it
Long row of housing replaced by even
staggering
Fronting courts catch the breeze and also get
view of sea
Dealing With Cyclones:
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
60/66
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
Open Spaces
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
61/66
PLAN
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
62/66
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
63/66
COMPUTER CENTRE
Ulloor, Trivandrum (1971)
elevation
Solution ofComputer Centre Design
Problems
Fitting in naturally and
harmoniously with the elevations
of the twenty five year oldinstitution
Challenges :
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
64/66
Using principle of lattice wall planning, breezeways and built
of natural brick and stone keeping in consideration theelectronic sophistication
He proposed a double walled building with an outer surfaceof intersecting circles of brick jalis
Internal shell fulfilled the constraints and controls necessaryfor a computer laboratory.
Space between the two walls accommodated the secondaryrequirements for offices and storage areas.
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
65/66
plan
External lattice
Two storeyed outer wall is stiffened by a series of intersecting circles,
8/3/2019 Laurie Baker1 2003 Format (2)
66/66
Space used for storage