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Laurie Baker architecture has re-defined eco-friendly housing with the help of local materials and traditional architectural concepts. Lawrence Wilfred Baker was a British-born Indian architect who lived by sustainable, organic, and vernacular architecture.
Early Days
He graduated from the Birmingham School of Architecture and was soon an associate member of the Royal Institute of Architects. The Quakers’ interpretation of Jesus’ teachings attracted him and he was later drawn to similar beliefs of Mahatma Gandhi. His work in India was greatly influenced by Gandhi as he also became a conscientious objector during the Second World War.
On his way to England, his journey was delayed by three months making a stop at Bombay. Here, he attended Gandhi’s talks and befriended him. He said, “One of the things he said has influenced my thinking – that the ideal house in the ideal village will be built using material that is found within a five-mile radius of the house.”
Laurie in India
Returning to India in 1945, he enrolled as an architect for a mission concerning caring for those suffering from leprosy. As an opportunity to use his architectural skills, he helped convert/replace old asylums into hospitals with necessary rehabilitation and occupation centers. This was all built with local materials using burnt brick, tile, stone, mortar, etc. to fit in with the local styles.
“India came to me long before I came to India to build houses for the people here. I shall live here, work here, and die here.” – Laurie Baker.
During his stay at Vagamon, he built hospitals for the poor tribals who lacked exposure to medical facilities. The Bakers moved to Kerala in 1963 and set up their own home – Hamlet in the local architectural style with local materials. Baker studied the local climate, materials, and craft skills and a detailed study of an individual’s specific needs. His resource-intensive architecture was infused with Gandhian principles and he was soon known as the Gandhian Architect.
Gandhian architecture was the same formwork, whether built for the rich or the poor. Low-cost construction techniques using concrete, local bricks, clay tiles, timber, and lime, providing maximum efficiency and aesthetics came to be known as Laurie Baker buildings. These structures also provided adequate ventilation, light, and security through the brick jali openings. This not only reduced costs but also fostered a sense of connection to the local environment.
Architecture Characteristics
Baker’s community buildings and articulated vision revolutionized his work. Middle and lower-class people were rewarded with his low-cost housing construction and truthfulness in architecture. His buildings were characterized by architectural elements that today resonate with sustainable architecture, such as :
- Local materials
- Natural light and ventilation
- Recycling and reuse of material
- Low cost
- Functionality and aesthetics
- Internal courtyards
- Socially responsible and environment-conscious
Laurie Baker architecture, even today, is a key example of sustainable architecture in India. He experimented with recycling materials like broken glass onto walls, to add a touch of coloured light. Laurie Baker design principles were driven by frugality and resourcefulness. His construction was functional and aesthetic with minimal elegance.
Consistent but unique architectural elements seen through Baker’s constructions are :
- Exposed construction
- Frameless doors and windows
- Filler Slab
- Jali Walls
- Rat-trap brick bonds
- Rubble Masonry
- Built-in furniture
His projects became testaments of traditional wisdom fused with innovation. Some of his remarkable creations are :
- Centre for Development Studies
- Fisherman’s Village
- Indian Coffee House
Centre for Development Studies
The Centre for Development Studies located in Trivandrum is a structure that reflects Baker’s true architectural style. This research institute is spread across 10 acres and seamlessly merges with its surroundings. It is divided into multiple blocks with its organic form resembling the topography it stands on.
The campus features a six-storied circular tower built of perforated brick lattice framework. Curved walls of the auditorium are a distinctive feature of CDS. The campus is highly climate responsive with its courtyards, arches, and light wells to facilitate cross ventilation, rat-trap double brick wall for thermal comfort, and tilted window shades to direct wind and provide adequate shade.
There was no requirement for air conditioning systems owing to the strategically placed jaali walls. The rat-trap bonds reduced the use of mortar by 25% and required fewer bricks. The walkability on this sloped site is made easier with its curved ramps.
Fishermens Village
Designed to stand amidst extreme climatic conditions with coastal breeze, heavy rains, and humidity, the Fishersmens Village was constructed in Poonthura. This settlement was designed for the fishermen, owing to the cyclones and rains that washed away houses.
The openness and linearity of the design stood out past the Baker architectural style. Each modular unit was of 25sqm. The design strategies aimed at combating cyclones, limited resources, tribal environment, and majorly the mindset of large insular groups. Design strategies used for this construction were :
- Row houses – this arrangement allowed for cross-ventilation and open breeze, also allowing privacy between the houses
- Sloping Roofs – the low sloped roofs act as wind catchers that go through the jali perforations
- Jali Walls – the lattice work resists heat gain and allows for conventional cooling and ventilation
Fishermens Village is a distinctive project addressing the community’s needs while respecting cultural sensitivities. It is a notable project curating a resilient and comfortable living environment for the fishing community.
Indian Coffee House
The Indian Coffee House in Trivandrum reflects Baker’s signature neo-vernacular architecture. This cylindrical brick spiral gains recognition owing to its form and also its exact spot between the railway station and the bus stop of the city. It has become a gathering place for passengers and local communities.
The cafe holds the traditional identity of the city and acts as a local landmark. Tapering towards the top, the structure is a continuous ramp. The exposed brick and perforated jaalis regulate the temperature while putting out a play of light and shadow.
Being cylindrical is part of the structure’s spatial needs within the site constraints. The outer side of the ramp is the built-in seating zone and the inner side is the circulation zone leading to a service core. As the building is a load-bearing structure, the plan is of two concentric circles with two central cores and exterior brick walls, of which the innermost is open to the sky. Gradually, the Indian Coffee House has revolutionized into a tourist centre celebrating great architecture and good food.
While the above examples are some of his revolutionary constructions, he significantly contributed to the sustainable architecture of India through various institutions, places of worship, and houses.
The Ambala Palli resembles the circular sanctum santorum of the Kerala temples. This demolished church was simple in form, made of brick and stone, and carried out passive cooling through the jaalis. It blended traditional techniques with modern sensibilities.
Baker?s Arch Garden Cafe is a Baker House turned high-end restaurant. With its brickwork detail, open plan, and arches, Baker’s architectural style is reflected in every corner of the residence. Daylight dispersed through the recycled glass created an illusion with its light and shadow. Mango mosaic patterns were created through the jaalis and recycled tiles.
The chapel at the Loyola School is one of a kind, contrasting to Baker’s small-scale built structures. This tall standing chapel is pierced with light through its rectangular open slits that act as jaalis. The signature wire sculptures of religious motifs on the exposed brick walls make this structure a simplistic place of worship.
Indian vernacular architecture concepts were thoroughly studied and understood by Laurie Baker to create sustainable and responsive buildings with contextual relevance.
Two organizations, COSTFORD (The Centre of Science and Technology for Rural Development) and LBC (Laurie Baker Centre for Habitat Studies) carry on the architects’ legacy to date. Uncommon Sense: The Life & Architecture of Laurie Baker, is a biographical film made by his grandson Vineet Radhakrishnan, and is the first-ever Indian film to be listed by Arch Daily.
Baker’s buildings even today stand as a paradigm for brick structures. The structures represent an architectural harmony of tradition, sustainability, community, materiality, and functionality. His philosophy and vision translated into action are just an inspiration for future generations in India to embrace sustainability and functionality through a combination of tradition and modernity.