Studying the design principles and design

philosophies of Laurie Baker

DISSERTATION SYNOPSIS
By
Mathiyalagan . M
3801610010

Under the guidance of

Ar.Raj kumar , M.Arch

VINAYAKA MISSIONS RESEARCH FOUNDATION

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING
AVIT,VMRFDU,CHENNAI.
 PHILOSOPHIES AND DESIGN
PRINCIPLES OF LAURIE BAKER
INTRODUCTION
Lawrence Wilfred "Laurie" Baker (2March 1917 – 1
April 2007) was a British-born Indian architect, renowned
for his initiatives in cost-effective energy-efficient
architecture and designs that maximized space, ventilation
and light and maintained an uncluttered yet striking aesthetic
sensibility.
Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and his own experiences in
the remote Himalayas, he promoted the revival of regional
building practices and use of local materials; and combined
this with a design philosophy that emphasized a responsible
and prudent use of resources and energy.
He was a pioneer of sustainable architecture as well
as organic architecture, incorporating in his designs even in
the late 1960s, concepts such as rain-water harvesting,
minimizing usage of energy-inefficient building materials,
minimizing damage to the building site and seamlessly
merging with the surroundings.
Due to his social and humanitarian efforts to bring
architecture and design to the common man, his honest use of
materials, his belief in simplicity in design and in life, and his
staunch Quaker belief in non-violence, he has been called the
"Gandhi of architecture."
AIM
To understand the philosophies and design principles of
Lawrence Wilfred "Laurie" Baker (2March 1917 – 1
April 2007) a British-born Indian architect in detail and
also to know how those philosophies and design
principles had their influence in his design projects and
also to know how that had their influence in the
architectural world .

OBJECTIVE
To understand the basic design principles of Laurie Baker.
To understand the basic design Philosophies of Laurie
Baker.
Also to Study in detail understand the basic techniques
used in low-cost housing,use of locally available
materials, cost-effective and energy efficient construction
techniques.
Also to study the simple, efficient and inexpensive vernacular
architecture
The direct and honest use of local materials
The honest appreciation of the materials and textures
Adoption of the traditional patterns of craftsmenship
The honest and optimum utilization of materials
Scope Of Study
This study will focus on the basic design Philosophies
and design principles of Laurie Baker in detail.
The aspects involves in the area of research mainly
includes vernacular architecture of Kerala, low-cost
housing , cost effective and energy efficient construction
techniques , also it includes the study of techniques used
by Laurie Baker with some case studies.
Limitations
This research limits the analysis of the basic design
principles and design Philosophies of Laurie Baker and
some other basic techniques used by Laurie Baker and
use of locally available techniques and materials
effectively in the design.
Methodology
Primarily the design process starts with the collection
of data on the basic design Philosophies and design
principles of Laurie Baker.
The data were collected from the sources such as books,
websites , and other online reference.
The collected data were grouped up and then the analysis
of the collected data will be done with some case studies.
That will lead to further study involves in the topics such
as optimum use of materials, adoption of traditional and local
craftsmanship , truth to materials and adoption of vernacular
architecture , etc.
 The Data collected can be represented in a subjective
manner.
This can be done by primarily organizing the data in an
order and then taking out the Inference.
This will help to understand the research and hence ,
help in drawing better conclusion.

Studying the basic design principles and

Philosophies of Laurie Baker.

Understanding the Understanding the

design principles of design philosophies of
Laurie Baker Laurie Baker

Data collection

Sources About
Books, Design Philosophies,
websites Design principles,
low cost construction
techniques,
vernacular architecture,
Brick construction,and
others.

Data analysis
Grouping all data
Inference/Conclusion
CASE STUDY
1.THE HAMLET
This house is situated on a site with area of about half
an acre , in Thiruvanavthapuram . Sloping steeply
towards the Nilachira road, the site was unwiedly in plan
steep in section, and had a rocky surface.
First built a single room but of timber, it housed the
library and also as bedroom, laundry room, dining room
and study.

The site was highly contoured on rocky , but Baker did

not disturb even a single rock or a tree, so it is popularly
named as “Right in the rocks”.
A House was built on the lower contour for the four
nieces who move to Trivandrum.
One more house was built for his son Tilak which faced
the trees.
 The Baker’s house- The Hamlet is made of red bricks
and terracotta tiles.
The House has a rustic elevation , actively blending with
nature.
Entrance
stone , wood and fish tile are reused from an earlier
building.

Also the grant entrance having a dog house just above

it.
There is a careful archestration of contrast of concealing
and revealing of dark and light of opening to the
landscape at the end of a narrow passage helps to enrich
the feeling of movement through the building and provide
an architectural complexity to an otherwise simple site.
It was a distance from the main house such that it
provides the Baker’s privacy and the nieces their
independence.
On the lower contours of the site ,facing the niecery was an
addition of a two roomed house adjoining the niecery , for
his son Tilak.

The Reapplication of old process symbolizes that Baker

understanding architectural history as a continuous
process.
Lots of arches were used.
Gables for proper air cross circulation and ventilation.

He used the large Kerala style window at the end of the

bed room provide both light and a good views. The wall is
decorated with waste materials creatively.
 The Decoration is made from the broken pottery, glass ,
and ceramic.

Baker always designed to utilize sunlight effectively and

minimize the need for artificial lighting.
Baker never cuts down trees , instead adapted his plans
, building around them.
Cost effective Baker window
Simple yet beautiful windows of Baker type made from
waste wood planks and grills made of throw away pieces.
Architectural Features
Steps directly cut in rocks.
Entrance has small sitting area for guests.
The wall is decorated from broken pottery , glass and ceramic.
Use of natural light.
Never cut trees instead adopted his design accordingly.
Inner courtyard close to nature.
Arches led into a beautiful open room.
Courtyard has many garden and ponds.
Pitched roof made of Mangalore tiles Baker’s fondness of
arches.
Gables for proper air circulation and ventilation.
Simple yet beautiful windows.
Grills made of bits and pieces.
Conical structure used.
Louvered window typical of Baker’s type stained glass effect.
Water tank for rain water harvesting.
Materials used from unconventional sources .
Family eats in kitchen.
Electricity wiring is not concealed.
LAURIE BAKER'S CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT
STUDIES (CDS), TRIVANDRUM
The campus for the research institute, Centre for
Development Studies, is one of Laurie Baker’s best
campus designs, located in a residential area on the
northern outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram.
The 10 acre campus stretching across a heavily
wooded site houses the Library, Computer centre,
Auditorium, hostels, guesthouses and residential units for
the staff.
 The design is a response to the sloping contoured
site and seems to grow out of it. There is hardly a straight
line with each structure curling in waves, semicircles and
arcs.
Baker pays careful attention to the contours on the
site and also the location of trees. The forms of the
buildings also follow the site with curved walls and
building forms along the contour. Often, when trees are
obstructing the building, Baker simply moulds his walls
around the trees so as not to disturb it. There are little
courtyards in between buildings, often acting as an
extension of the building itself and also pools of water
which help in microclimatic control through evaporative
cooling.
The roofs had often interesting shapes with funny
openings at certain location. These openings were Baker’s
interpretation of the gables which were tilted into the
wind direction funnelling it into the space.
 The main administrative building is the focus of the
campus, with the 6 storey circular library tower behind.
The main entrance is majestic, sloping up towards the
sky with the side walls welcomingly sloping outwards
towards a wide set of steps.
Baker has symbolically not provided a front door. The
building is totally open, symbolic of an institution whose
aim is to promote research into helping the poor.
The library tower is a circular tower with an external
jaali wall which encloses a circular staircase in the centre.
The staircase winds around a circular shaft which runs
from the bottom level all the way till the top.
Baker has used this shaft to provide forced ventilation
inside the spaces. There are small openings in this shaft at
each floor level.
The air is forced through these openings and escapes
through the open top of the shaft, maintaining a good flow
all around.This shaft is based on the simple principle of
Stack effect.
The perforated jaali wall on the external side allows
plenty of diffused natural light inside and creates a
beautiful ambience for reading.
The language is typically that of Baker, his interpretation
of a vocabulary unique to Kerala.
Exposed brick walls in beautiful patterns and bonds,
exposed concrete sloping roofs with filler slabs of
mangalore tiles forming beautiful patterns and jaalis in the
brick walls of numerous designs creating amazing
patterns of light and shade inside the buildings while at
the same time letting in wind and light.
 The plinths of the buildings are all of exposed random
rubble granite, the white contrasting with the red of the
brick. Baker has used lime mortar for his walls, making
the lime in the site itself by burning sea shells (from the
beach a few miles away) and grinding it.
The flooring is in red oxide which imparts a cool
comfortable base to walk on while complementing the
earthy materials of the walls and the roof. There are
external pavements in concrete, inset with granite
aggregates in the shape of flowers and leafs.
Baker often gave freedom to the masons and the
workers to experiment and play and bring out their
creativity.

To keep the interiors of the computer building cool,

Baker has devised the imaginative use of a false external
jaali screen wall which acts as a skin.
 The air trapped in between acts as insulation and keeps
the interiors cool. All the buildings in the campus are
climatically so efficient that even fans are not required.
The interiors are cool and comfortable.
Baker’s architecture is more than just the materials and
cost effectiveness. He plays with spaces, light and
shadows, creating comfortable spaces.

CONCLUSION
This study concludes that the design Philosophies and
design principles of Laurie Baker that made him an
innovative and great architect thus he was also called as
“Gandhi of Architecture”, also this study concludes that
he gave respect to the traditional craftsmanship and he
adopted those techniques in his designs also he used the
cost effective and energy efficient construction techniques
with innovation that is affordable for all the types of
classes of people.Also the term truth to materials that
leads to the exposed architecture which is also an cost
effective technique.