lauriebaker1-140927054316-phpapp01

LAURIE BAKER

by:mahitha.r

His approach and simple principles to low cost housing are Gandhian, which can be adopted by every builder. The following are the mainstay of design and construction of his houses.

Planning of space– lesser walls, multiple uses of space, short spans of roof, agglomeration of building services, flexibility in growth.

Local building material– bricks, tiles, lime, surkhi, timber, thatch, stone, palm, mud.

Bricks and jalis – play of light and shade, unidirectional vision.

Unplastered walls. Lintels and arches. Attention to details.

Baker’s works include, private residences, some institutional buildings, like ‘center for development studies’, Kerala. He is very active in the works of all the building centers working in Kerala as well as in the other parts of country. Rather it was his initial effort to promote the low cost housing in India, where housing is a big problem.

His techniques not only use cheaper materials but also eliminate unnecessary details from the design. Concrete is sparingly used. Mangalore tiles are used for the roof which makes it light and inexpensive.

•Masonry Dome Advantages •Energy saving eco-friendly compressive roof. •Decorative & Highly Economical for larges spans. •Maintenance free

Funnicular shell Advantages •Energy saving eco-friendly compressive roof. •Decorative & Economical •Maintenance free

Jack Arch Advantages

Energy saving & Eco-Friendly compressive roofing.

Decorative & Highly Economical Maintenance free

BAKER’S HOUSE, “THE HAMLET” Baker’s own residence is

called ‘The Hamlet’. It has been built in Thiruvananthapuram, built on a steeply sloping and rocky hillside that hardly had any vegetation when Baker started constructing.

Baker has truly adopted his motto to “make low-cost a habit and a way of life” by reusing everything, from brick to glass bottles, as building materials.

• Key features of his house are:All the walls are made of mud bricks.Timber salvaged from an old boat jetty.

One of the other signature elements of his design includes the use of circular walls, which use far less brick than rectangular walls.

In addition, when he does use concrete for a roof, he embeds chipped or broken terra cotta roofing tiles into the mixture.

These tiles, which normally would be thrown away, contribute to the strength of the roof, allow less of the expensive concrete to be used, and reduce the structural load of the building.

He used broken tiles for the outer paved area of his garden.

He made an extensive use of timber in his house, like in the living room of house, the detailing in wood and mud bricks are wonderful.

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 an illusion of stained glass.

GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

PLAN AND ELEVATION

STEPS LEADING UP TO FRONT DOOR

A VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE

STEPS DIRECTLY CUT IN ROCK

ENTRANCE HAS SMALL SITTING AREA FOR GUESTS

THE WALL IS DECORATED FROM BROKEN POTTERY, PENS, GLASS

A CALLING BELL FOR VISITORS TO ANNOUNCE THEIR PRESENCE

A MORNING AT HEMLET

INTERIOR

USE OF NATURAL LIGHT

USE OF NATURAL LIGHT

INNER COURTYARD …CLOSE TO NATURE

NEVER CUT TREES INSTEAD ADAPTED HIS DESIGN ACCORDINGLY

ARCHES LED INTO A BEAUTIFUL OPEN ROOM

COURTYARD HAS MANY GARDENS AND PONDS

Pitched roof made of manglore tiles

BAKER’S FONDNESS OF ARCHES

SIMPLE YET BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS

GABLES FOR PROPER AIR CIRCULATION AND VENTILATION

GRILL MADE OF BITS AND PIECES

CONICAL STRUCTURE USED…

COST EFFECTIVE BAKER’S WINDOW

Louvered window typical of baker’s type

STAINED GLASS EFFECT

WATER TANK FOR STORING RAIN HARVESTED WATER

THANK YOU