LAURIE BAKER

(1917 2007)

LAURENCE WILFRED BAKER

INTRODUCTION:
BORN ON MARCH 2,1917 IN BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.
STUDIED ARCHITECTURE AT BIRMINGHAM INSTITUTE OF ART &
DESIGN, BIRMINGHAM AND GRADUATED IN 1937, AGED 20, IN A
PRIOD OF POLITICAL UNREST IN EUROPE.
DURING WORLD WAR II, HE SERVED IN THE FRIENDS
AMBULANCE UNIT IN CHINA AND BURMA.
IN 1943, HE HAPPENED TO MEET MAHATMA GANDHI IN
BOMBAY.
IN 1945, HE CAME BACT TO INDIA AS AN ARCHITECT FOR
WORLD LEPROSY MISSION.
HIS RESPONSIBILITIES WERE FOCUSSED ON
COVERTING/REPLACING ASYLUMS INTO TREATMENT HOSPITALS.
HE STAYED AS A GUEST WITH AN INDIAN DOCTOR-P.J. CHANDY
& HIS FAMILY. AND LATER MARRIED HIS SISTER-ELIZABETH
JACOB.
HE OBTAINED INDIAN CITIZENSHIP IN 1989 AND RESIDED IN

PHILOSOPHY:

ILLUSTRATIONS:

THE HAMLET @ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, INDIA.

Mrs. NALINI NAYAKS RESIDENCE @ ULLOOR, KERALA, INDIA.

CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES @ TRIVANDRUM, KERALA,

THE HAMLET @ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA.

MAIN ENTRANCE
WITH A DOG HOUSE
ABOVE IT.

MAIN ENTRANCE VIEWED FROM A WINDOW ON THE UPPER FLOOR

STEPS LEADING UP TO FRONT DOOR

A VIEW FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE

STEPS DIRECTLY CUT IN ROCK

THE WALL IS DECORATED FROM

BROKEN POTTERY, PENS, GLASS

NTRANCE HAS SMALL SITTING AREA

FOR GUESTS

A CALLING BELL FOR

VISITORS TO ANNOUNCE
THEIR PRESENCE

A MORNING AT THE HAMLET

USE OF NATURAL LIGHT

INNER COURTYARDS WITH GARDENS & WATER BODIES

NEVER CUT TREES. INSTEAD ADAPTED HIS DESIGN ACCORDINGLY

ARCHES LED INTO A BEAUTIFUL OPEN R

BAKERS FONDNESS OF ARCHES

PICHED ROOF:MANGALORE TILES

GABLES FOR PROPER AIR

CIRCULATION AND VENTILATION

GRILL MADE OF BITS AND PIECES OF SCR

SIMPLE YET BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS

BAKERS LOUVERED WINDOW

STAINED GLASS EFFECT

WATER TANK

Mrs. NALINI NAYAKS RESIDENCE @TIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA

FLOOR PLAN: SKETCHES

VIEW OF THE ENTRANCE FROM LIVING RO

THE ENTRANCE

I FLOOR BEDROOM ENTRANCE

JALI WALLS

JALI WINDOWS (II FLOOR BED ROOM)

CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

@ TRIVANDRUM, INDIA.

THE ENTRANCE TO THE OFFICE

CONSTRUCTION
TECHNIQUES:
RAT TRAP BOND
FILLER SLAB
ARCHES
CORBELLING
TERRACOTTA ROOFING
BRICK JALI WALLS
EXPOSED BRICK WORK

HIS INNOVATIVE USE OF

DISCARDED BOTTLES INSET IN
THE WALL, CREATES A

BRICK JALI WALLS & FILLER SLAB

QUOTES:
I HAVE MY OWN PRINCILPLES, WHICH I AM UNWILLING TO
ABANDON. I DISLIKE FALSEHOOD & DECEIT. A BUILDING
SHOULD BE TRUTHFUL.
BRICKS TO ME ARE LIKE FACES. ALL OF THEM ARE MADE
OF BURNT MUD, BUT THEY VARY SLIGHTLY IN SHAPE AND
COLOUR. I THINK THESE SMALL VARIATIONS GIVE
TREMENDOUS CHARACTER TO A WALL MADE OF
THOUSANDS OF BRICKS, SO I NEVER DREAM OF COVERING
SUCH A UNIQUE AND CHARECTERFUL CREATION WITH
PLASTER, WHICH IS MAINLY DULL AND CHARECTERLESS.
I LIKE THE CONTRAST OF TEXTURES OF BRICK, OF STONE,
OF CONCRETE, OF WOOD.
I DONT THINK IVE EVER BEEN INSPIRED BY WHAT OTHER
ARCHITECTS HAVE DONE; BUT MORE BY WHAT ORDINARY
CRAFTSMEN HAVE CREATED.
MY FEELING IS THAT I AM NOT TRYING TO PUT UP A

AWARDS:
1981:D.Litt.conferred by the Royal University of
Netherlands for outstanding work in the developing
countries.
1983:Order of the British Empire,MBE
1987: Received the first Indian National Habitat
Award
1988: Received Indian Citizenship
1989: Indian Institute of Architects Outstanding
Architect of the Year
1990: Received thePadma Sri
1990: Great Master Architect of the Year
1992: UNO Habitat Award & UN Roll of Honour
1993: International Union of Architects (IUA) Award
1993: Sir Robert Matthew Prize for Improvement of
Human Settlements
1994: People of the Year Award
1995: Awarded Doctorate from theUniversity of
Central England
1998: Awarded Doctorate from Sri Venkateshwara
University
2001: Coinpar MR Kurup Endowment Award
2003: Basheer Puraskaram

DEATH & LEGACY:

APRIL 1, 2007, AGED 90.

LAURIE BAKER PASSED AWAY ON

MANY ARCHITECTS STUDIED AND WERE INSPIRED BY THE

WORKS OF LAURIE BAKER.

LAURIE BAKERS WRITINGS WERE PUBLISHED AND ARE

AVAILABLE THROUGH COSTFORD (CENTER OF SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT)

THE LAURIE BAKER CENTRE FOR HABITAT STUDIES (LBC) WAS

ESTABLISHED BY HIS FRIENDS, STUDENTS AND ADMIRERS TO
PROPOGATE HIS PHILOSOPHY OF THE CONCEPT OF
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, THROUGH RESEARCH,
EXTENSION, TRAINING, DOCUMENTATION, DISSEMINATION AND
NETWORKING.

THE END

THANK YOU
MBV BHARGAV,
11011AA006.