LAURIE BAKER

BORN : MARCH 2, 1917,

BIRMINGHAM , UNITED KINGDOM
DIED : APRIL 1, 2007,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM , KERALA

NAME: MEGHNA AUGUSTINE

LEVEL : L4
MODULE: DESIGN ROOTS
LECTURER: JUHI NAGPAL
SHUBHADA SHAH
I HAVE MY OWN PRINCIPLES
WHICH I AM UNWILLING TO ABANDON.
I DISLIKE FALSEHOOD AND DECEIT.
THE BUILDING SHOULD BE TRUTHFUL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction pg 8
Early years of Laurie Baker pg 9
- Childhood pg 10
- Education pg 11
- Missionary works pg 12
- Journey to India pg 13
- Gandhian Influence pg 14
- Personal life pg 15
- The Himalayan Era pg 16
Bakers Principles pg 18
Architectural Style pg 19
Characteristics pg 20
Low cost construction pg 24
His popular construction techniques pg 25
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Rat trap bonds pg 26
- Filler Slabs pg 29
why filler slabs? pg 30
- Arches pg 34
types of arches pg 35
- Domes pg 36
- Mangalore tiles pg 37
- Terracotta Flooring pg 39
- Frameless Doors and Windows pg 40
Characteristic Elements pg 42
Innovative Methods pg 43
Working methodology pg 44
Bakers Contribution to architecture pg 45
- Hamlet pg 47
Conclusion pg 63
 INTRODUCTION
There are not many architects who have created an idiom of their
own or left behind a unique architectural legacy that has had a deep
impact on the way people conceive homes and public buildings.

Standing tall among the select few is Laurie Baker, who was born
and trained in architecture in England, but made India, more
specifically Kerala, his home, leaving a deep imprint in Keralas
architectural history.

Laurie Baker represented a unique tradition of architecture that

blended man and nature. He emphasised local materials and
traditional concepts in constructing dwellings, demonstrating a
strong commitment to mass, affordable housing.
EARLY YEARS
OF
LAURIE BAKER
 CHILDHOOD
Laurie Baker or Laurence Wilfred Baker was born on March 2,
1917 in a Christian family.
Laurie was interested in design.
In his childhood he would accompany his father every weekend
to visit cathedrals and other old buildings and then he would
build models and draw pictures of what he had seen.

Figure1 : Father & son going to church.

 EDUCATION
After his matriculation, he joined
the Birmingham School of
Architecture and graduated in the
year 1937 at the age of 20.

He became an Associate
Member of the Royal Institute of
Architects (ARIBA) in 1938.

Hardly had he got the

opportunity to start working in
Figure2 : Ar. Baker in his university gown
England when World War II Ref:http://www.britsattheirbest.com/creative_brit
broke out just a year later in 1939. s/cr_architect_baker.htm
 MISSIONARY WORKS
During the Second World War ,
he served in the Friends
Ambulance Unit in China and
Burma.
Served the leper colony in inland
China for almost 4 years and
thus he also became a doctor,
nurse, pharmacist and
pathologist.
After the war ended he returned
to England to take up life as an
architect but soon he went to
India to work for mission for
lepers.
Figure3 : Friends Ambulance Unit
Ref: www.ourstory.info
 JOURNEY TO INDIA
Bakers initial commitment to India
had him working as architect for an
interdenominational Mission
dedicated to the care of those
suffering from leprosy.
He focused on converting or
replacing asylums once used to
house the Ostracized sufferers of
the disease - "lepers".
Finding his English construction
education to be inadequate for the
types of issues he faced here , Baker
had no choice but to observe and
learn from the methods and Figure4: Baker working in site
practices of the vernacular Ref:http://kamalkamaraju.blogspot.in/2011/10/architectu
re-remembering-laurie-baker.html
architecture.
 GANDHIAN INFLUENCE
Through Bakers Quaker friends , he met
Mahatma Gandhi , who sent him to see
the citys concrete slums and asked the
young architect to think about better
ways of housing indias poor.

Inspired by Gandhis encouragement ,

Baker went home to England and true to
his word he promptly returned to India.

Mahatma Gandhis principles influenced

Bakers work throughout his 50 years of
stay in India.
Figure5: Ar. Laurie Baker
Ref : http://architexturez.net/doc/az-cf-
166224
 PERSONAL LIFE
After India gained her independence and
Mahatma Gandhi (a personal acquaintance
and powerful influence on Baker's building
philosophy) assassinated, Baker lived in
Kerala with Doctor P.J. Chandy from whom
he received great encouragement.

Later he married Dr.Chandys sister

Elizabeth who herself was a doctor
and moved to Pithoragarh, a small village
on the borders of Tibet and Nepal in the
Himalayas, where they lived and worked
for 16 years.
Figure6: Laurie Baker and his wife Dr Elizabeth at
their residence in Thiruvananthapuram.
Photo: S. Mahinsha.
Ref: The hindu ,
http://www.thehindu.com/features/homes-and-
gardens/laurie-baker-centre-perpetuating-a-
legacy/article40527.ece
 THE HIMALAYAN ERA
Elizabeth's medical training was put to use in Pithoragarh while
Laurie continued his architectural work and research
accommodating the medical needs of the community through his
constructions of various hospitals and clinics.

It is here that Baker would acquire those skills from the local
building community which had so fascinated him during his
missionary work.
 Baker sought to enrich the culture in which he
participated by promoting simplicity and home-grown
quality in his buildings.
Seeing so many people living in poverty in the region
and throughout India served also to amplify his
emphasis on cost-conscious construction, one that
encouraged local participation in development and
craftsmanship - an ideal that the Mahatma expressed as
the only means to revitalize and liberate an
impoverished India.
This drive for simplicity also stemmed from his Quaker
upbringing and faith.
Baker sought to provide the 'right' space for his clients
and to avoid anything pretentious.
Bakers Principles

Figure7: Principle in Bakers own writing

Ref:
http://www.lauriebaker.net/index.php/work/ba
kers-architectural-principles
 ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
Baker has devised his own style that had his signature of structural
honesty , design integrity and sustaining quality.

Baker creates a variety of textures and patterns by simple

manipulation of the way in which bricks are placed in the wall.

Figure8: Ar.Baker
Ref: indiatoday.intoday.in Figure9: brick patterns
Ref: groups.yahoo.com
 CHARACTERISTICS
Designing and building low cost, high
quality and beautiful homes.

Suited to or built for lower-middle to lower

class clients.

Irregular, pyramid type structures on roofs,

with one side left open and tilting into the Figure10: St. John's Cathedral, Thiruvalla
Ref: The Hindu
wind.

Brick jali walls, a perforated brick screen

which utilizes natural air movement to cool
the homes interiors and create intricate
patterns of light and shadows.

Figure11: Brick jail pattern in CDS

Ref: The Hindu
 Bakers designs invariably have traditional
indian sloping roofs and terracotta
Mangalore tiles shinging with gables and
vents allowing rising hot air to escape.

Curved walls to enclose more volume at

lower material cost than straight walls.
Figure12: curved walls with brick jali patterns ,
Indian coffee house.
Ref: https://thetrinitycollege.wordpress.com
Use of low energy consuming mud walls
and compartments for milk bottles on the
doorstep and window sills that double as
bench surfaces.

Instead of cutting down trees , adapting it

in the design saves construction cost as
well, since working around difficult site
conditions is much more cost-effective.
Figure13: The Hamlet
Ref: lauriebaker.net
 Innovative bonding techniques for brick allow Baker to build walls of
only half brick thickness.

Interiors are uncompromisingly direct and simple.

Modified glass windows, frames and sills etc are often eliminated
preferring small openings in bricks like the traditional jali.

Various features of his work are using recycled material , natural

environment control and frugality of the design maybe seen as
sustainable architecture or green building with its emphasis on
sustainability.

Figure 14: used in Hamlet Figure15: at Col. Jacob residence Thiruvananthapuram

Ref: thearchiblog.wordpress.com Ref:misfitsarchitecture.com
 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.

Figure17: Abu Abrahams house

Ref: Lauriebaker.net

Figure16: Abu Abrahams house Thiruvananthapuram

Ref: lauriebaker.net
LOW COST CONSTRUCTION

Low cost or cost reduction is not only concerning

economy.
Most modern building materials are manufactured
articles like cement or steel etc.
Their respective cost are more important consideration
but just as is the important question of how much
energy (or fuel) was used in their manufacture.
The use of local materials are an example of economy
as there are no transportation costs.
HIS POPULAR
CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES

USE OF RAT TRAP BOND

FILLER SLABS
ARCHES
TERRACOTTA ROOFING
FRAMELESS DOORS AND WINDOWS
RAT TRAP BONDS
This double-wall technique uses bricks on edge with a cross brick
between each and produces a 9-inch thick wall with an insulating
air cavity in between.

Figure18: Isometric views of bonds Figure19: Isometric views of rat trap bond
 HOW A COMPLETED
MASONRY LOOKS...
Figure 21: ELevation

Figure20: technique to build rat trap bond

 Surprisingly, this technique reduces the number of bricks
required by 25%, thereby reducing material used,
including mortar (1:8 mix), and overall cost.

Rat-trap technique is equal to the strength of a solid

9-inch wall in either Flemish or English bond.
 FILLER SLABS
Filler slabs employ by replacing
unproductive concrete by a filler material
which reduces the weight of the slab and
also the cost by reducing the amount of
concrete used.
Also since the weight of the slab is
reduced , lesser steel is required for
reinforcement further reducing the cost.

Figure22: Filler slab

Figure 23: Filler slab
Ref: http://www.lauriebakerbuildingcentre.com/
 WHY FILLER SLABS?
The reason why, concrete and steel are used together to construct RCC
slab, is in their individual properties as separate building materials and
their individual limitation. Concrete is good in taking compression and
steel is good in tension. Thus RCC slab is a product which resists both
compression as well as tensile.

Figure 24: Slab cross section

SIMPLY SUPPORTED SLAB CROSS-SECTION.

The fig. indicates the neutral axis and also tension concrete in the
bottom fibres of the slab which is in tension but the top fibres will
be in compression.

Figure 25: sectional elevation

Tension in a slab is on the bottom fibre and compression on the top

fiber that means if we want to optimise the structure we can remove
concrete from the tension zone where it is not much needed. thats
the key behind filler slab construction.
Figure 26 : sketch of slab showing why filler slab is good
FILLER MATERIALS ADVANTAGES OF FILLER SLAB
Bricks
Tiles
Cellular
Concrete
Blocks
Pots
Waste bottles

Figure 28

Figure 27
 ARCHES
The arch is significant because it provides
a structure which eliminates tensile
stresses in spanning an open space.
All the forces are resolved into
compressive stresses.
This is useful because several of the
available building materials such as
stone, cast iron and concrete can strongly
resist compression but are very weak
when tension, shear or torsional stress is
applied to them.

Figure29: Masonary arch

Ref: http://www.lauriebakerbuildingcentre.com/
 TYPES OF ARCHES
CORBEL ARCH FLAT ARCH

Figure30: Corbel arch Figure31: Flat arch

SEMI-CIRCULAR ARCH SEGMENTAL ARCH

Figure32: semi circular arch Figure31: Segmental arch

 DOMES
A dome can be thought of as an
arch which has been rotated
around its central vertical axis.

Thus domes, like arches, have a

great deal of structural strength
when properly built and can span
large open spaces without interior
supports.

Figure32: Residential masonary dome

Ref: njarchitect.wordpress.com
 MANGALORE TILES
Mangalore tiles (also Mangalorean tiles)
are a type of tiles native to the city
of Mangalore, India.
These red tiles, prepared from
hard laterite clay, are in great demand
throughout Indi
These were the only tiles to be
recommended for government buildings
in India during the British regime.
They are a popular form of roofing and
are preferred over concrete due to their
good quality.
They provide excellent ventilation
especially during summer
and aesthetically as well.
Figure33:Nirmiti Kendra, Trivamdru,
Ref: njarchitect.wordpress.com
 Some of them are especially made
to be placed over kitchen and
bathroom for the smoke to escape.
Over a period of time, these tiles
become dark to black from constant
exposure to soot and smoke.
They are unique and are made or
available in different size and
shapes depending on the users
need.
These tiles are not only eco-
friendly but also cheap, durable and
costs only one third that of cement.
Some of the buildings which are 100
yrs. old still have tile roofing.
These tiles are suited for regions
experiencing heavy rainfall as Figure34: Manglore tile as an infill
for roofing.
water drains easily and fast.
 TERRACOTTA FLOORING
Flooring is often of terracotta tiles or colour
oxides.
The bed is made out of broken brickbats
(this saves wastage of brick), over which a
3 mortar layer is laid and tiles are placed
over it.
Various patterns and designs are worked
out, dependent upon shape, size of tiles,
span of flooring, and clients personal taste.
These tiles require little maintenance and
are cheap.
Also the patterns of tiles are visually
attractive. Most commonly, tile shapes
include square, rectangular, hexagonal, Figure35: House of Mr.Vijayan Vadavalli
triangular or can be customized. Also, Coimbatore
(Former Director of Salim Ali Centre for
electrical cables can be run through these Ornithology and Natural history
floors.
FRAMELESS DOORS AND WINDOWS
Door and window frames are not actually
required.
They are responsible for almost half the cost
of timber used.
Avoiding frames considerably reduces the
cost of timber.
Door planks are screwed together with
strap iron hinges to form doors, and this can
be carried by holdfast fittings carried into
the wall.
The simplest and most cost-effective door
can be made of vertical planks held
together with horizontal or diagonal Figure36: Frameless Door
battens.
 The simplest frameless window
consists of a vertical plank (9 wide)
set into two holes, one at the top
and one at the bottom. This forms a
simple pivotal window.
Wide span windows can be
partially framed and fixed to walls
or can have rows of pivotal planks.

Figure37: Frameless window

THESE METHODS AND TECHNIQUES
LED TO CHARACTERISTIC ELEMENTS
OF BAKERS STYLE

JALIS
TRADITIONAL ROOFS
STEPPED ARCHES,
OVERHANGING EAVES
SKYLIGHTS
BUILT-IN FURNITURES
MORE INNOVATIVE METHODS
HE ADOPTED.

DIFFERENT BONDING TECHNIQUES

FOR BRICKS.
PERFORATED BRICK WALLS
USE OF DISCARDED BOTTLES , INSET
IN WALL.
USE OF BRICKS INSPITE OF LINTELS
CURVED WALLS
RUBBLE MASONRY
WORKING METHODOLOGY
Laurie Bakers method is of improvisation and he never had any
drafted plans rather he liked to improvise on every stage of
construction.

Curved jail walls are drawn by hand on the site without any
equipments.

Openings are designed as the wall is being build , niches are carved
in and corners are detailed during the process of actual building.

He follows a method of construction that creates similar elements

varying according to the function and scale of each project.
He believed in the triad of the Architect , Craftsmen and Client.

Figure38: Baker working

BAKERS CONTRIBUTION
TO ARCHITECTURE
BAKERS ARCHITECTURAL CREATIONS EXPANDS
FROM A REMARKABLY VARIED SPECTRUM OF
PROJECTS RANGING FROM VILLAGES TO LOW
COST HOUSES.

Figure39: Sewa center

 Laurie Baker was a prolific builder.

So passionate was he about his mission to create shelter

for as many as possible that he rarely documented any of
his work per any typical architect's norms.

Therefore please note there is only grossly incomplete list

available that has been pieced together in retrospect.

Most of his works have not been recorded specially in north

India

There are none of his works recorded decade wise, so here

is one of his Notable projects, his own house THE HAMLET.
 THE HAMLET
This is Baker's home in Trivandrum.
A remarkable and unique house built on five levels on a plot of land
along the slope of a rocky hill, with limited access to water:
conditions most people would never dream of building anything
much less their homes under!
However Baker has created a wonderful home for his family.

Figure40: hamlet inner view

 The house is situated on a
site with area of about half
an acre, in
Thiruvananthapuram,
sloping steeply toward the
Nilanchira road.

The site was unwieldly in

plan steep in section, and
had a rocky surface.

Figure41: the Hamlet entrance

Ref: el.doccentre.info
 First built is a single room hut of timber.
It housed the library of medical books and also as bedroom,
laundry room, dining room and study.
The site was highly contoured an rocky, but even Baker did not
disturb even a single rock or a tree , so it is popularly named right
in the rocks.
A house was build on the lower contour for the 4 nieces who
moved to Trivandrum.
One more house was built for his son Tilak facing the trees.

Figure42: Hamlet inner courtyard

Ref: artnlight.blogspot.com
 FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SECTIONAL ELEVATION GROUND FLOOR PLAN

Figure43: Plan of both the Levels of Hamlet

Ref: nayeemasif.wordpress.com
TILAKS ROOM ADDITION PLAN AND SECTIONAL ELEVATION

Figure44: Additional room plan and sectional elevation

Ref: nayeemasif.wordpress.com
 The Bakers house- Hamlet is not visible from the road and walks up
towards it is one of the accidental encounters- an entrance , a
steeper gradient along a workshop along a free standing door, a
curved path along the niecery and the final steps leading to the
plinth of the main house.

The house is made up of

red bricks and roof with
terracotta tiles.
The house has a rustic
elevation, actively
blending with nature.
A formal dining space
does not exist.
If a visitor is present,
he/she eats under the
ceiling of the kitchen Figure45: Entrance
Ref: https://www.flickr.com/
photos/doctorcasino/60299
18853/in/photostream/
There is a careful orchestration The heavily shaded areas have surfaced
of contrast like concealing and in stone and lead across changing levels
revealing ,dark and light and of to doorways mysteriously hidden behind
opening to the landscape at the curved walls.
end of a narrow passage which
helps to enrich the feeling of
movement through the building
and provide an architectural
complexity to an otherwise simple
site.

Figure 46: interiors Figure 47: interiors

Grant entrance having a
Dog house just above it.
Stone , wood and fish tiles
are reused from an earlier
building.
Figure47
It was at a distance from
the main house, such that
The large Kerala style
it provided the bakers
window at the end of
privacy and the nieces
the bedroom provides
their independence. This is
both light and a good view.
a niecery.
Figure48 Figure49
Steps leading up to front
View from the Opposite side Steps directly cut in a rock
Door

Images taken from www.lauriebaker.net

 The wall is decorated from
Entrance has small sitting broken pottery, pens A calling bell for visitors
area for guests. and glass. To announce their presence.

Images taken from www.lauriebaker.net

A morning at Hamlet Use of natural light in the structures

Images taken from www.lauriebaker.net

 Never cut trees instead adapt his design
Inner courtyardclose to nature
according

Images taken from www.lauriebaker.net

 Gables for proper air circulation
Simple yet beautiful windows and ventilation

Images taken from www.lauriebaker.net

 Water tank for storing Rain
Bakers fondness of arches
Harvested Water

Images taken from www.lauriebaker.net

Cost Effective Bakers window
Louvered window typical of
Stained Glass effect
bakers type

Images taken from www.lauriebaker.net

WHAT INSPIRED ME
TO STUDY ON
LAURIE BAKERS WORKS

HIS LOVE FOR

HUMANITY AND NATURE
 CONCLUSION

Laurie baker was a person who was concerned about sustainable

means of architecture.
His devotion and his inspiration towards his works is awe inspiring.
The most important aspect for Baker was the building cost;
it had to be minimal.
Baker had a thorough knowledge and was very committed.
Neither did he seek publicity nor did he care about critics.
Some critics said his buildings would not last for more than
10 years but they are still standing.
 THE BUILDING TECHNIQUES BAKER EVOLVED TO SUIT SPECIFIC
PROBLEMS OF HIS CLIENTS IN KERALA IS NOT A FORMULA
APPLICABLE TO ALL SIMILAR SITUATIONS & YET FROM ITS STEMS
AN ENTIRE IDEOLOGY OF ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE
- A PATTERN THAT IS REVOLUTIONARY IN ITS SIMPLICITY & ITS
CONTRADICTION OF THE ACCEPTED NORMS OF ARCHITETCURE
IN CONTEMPORARY INDIA.

In conclusion ,if we look into laurie bakers life we could easily find
that he was a person who likes to lead a simple and serene life, and
from his works we can see that he is trying to make architecture
resonate to the tune o nature, which makes us all inspired and
speechless...
THANK YOU