STATE INSTITUTE OF URBAN PLANNING

AND ARCHITECTURE

SOCIOLOGY
TOPIC :
ARCHITECT AND SOCIETY

SUBMITTED BY
DEEPAK KUMAR VERMA
4TH YEAR, 7TH SEM.
17040105
 LAURIE BAKER

BRITISH-BORN INDIAN ARCHITECT -

•HE WORKED IN INDIA FOR OVER 50 YEARS

•HE OBTAINED INDIAN CITIZENSHIP IN 1989 AND RESIDED
IN TRIVANDRUM, KERALA.
•IN 1990, THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AWARDED HIM
WITH THE PADMA SHRI IN RECOGNITION OF HIS
MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN THE FIELD OF ARCHITECTURE.
•BAKER STUDIED ARCHITECTURE IN BIRMINGHAM AND
GRADUATED IN 1937.

CONTRIBUTION TO INDIA- (March 2, 1917 – April 1, 2007)

• WORKED AS AN ARCHITECT FOR AN INTERNATIONAL

AND INTERDENOMINATIONAL MISSION DEDICATED TO
THE CARE OF THOSE SUFFERING FROM LEPROSY.
• FOCUSED ON CONVERTING OR REPLACING ASYLUMS
ONCE USED TO HOUSE THE OSTRACIZED SUFFERERS
OF THE DISEASE - "LEPERS".
• USED INDIGENOUS ARCHITECTURE AND METHODS OF
THESE PLACES AS MEANS TO DEAL WITH HIS ONCE
DAUNTING PROBLEMS.
 PHILOSOPHY

• THE ARCHITECTURE SHOULD MERGE WITH THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE, RATHER

THAN STANDING OUT. IT SHOULD NOT BE IN COMPETITION WITH THE NATURE, BUT IN
HARMONY WITH IT.
• THE ARCHITECTURE AT A PLACE SHOULD BE RESPONSIVE TO THE CLIMATE, CONTEXT
AND THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES – IT SHOULD BE FOR THE PEOPLE, THEIR NEEDS AND
HOPES, IRRESPECTIVE OF TREND OR STYLE.
• THE OUTER FORM ALONE IS MEANINGLESS, IT HAS TO BE COMPLEMENTED OR
OVERSHADOWED BY THE INNER CONTENTS SINCE, THE SPATIAL EXPERIENCE OF AN
INHABITANT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PURE VISUAL FORMS.

PRINCIPLES
• ONLY ACCEPT A REASONABLEBRIEF AND ONE WHICH YOU THINK YOU ARE
CAPABLE OF CARRYING THROUGH.
• ALWAYS STUDY YOUR SITE- , SOIL, TOPOGRAPHY, WATER CLIMATE & NEIGHBOURS
(NOISY TEMPLES, SMELLY FACTORIES, ETC)
• SEE POTENTIAL SERVICES – WATER, DRAINAGE, ACCESS, POWER, FUEL, PHONE, ETC. IF
NOT POSSIBLE OR AVAILABLE, WHAT WILL YOU DO?
• YOU, YOURSELF, GET ACCURATE DETAILS OF THE SITE, WITH IN-SITU FACTS SUCH
AS TREES, ROCKS, A WELL, WIND & RAIN DIRECTIONS.
• EVERY BUILDING SHOULD BE UNIQUE NO TWO PEOPLE, OR FAMILIES ETC ARE A LIKE,
SO WHY SHOULD THEIR HOMES ALL BE THE SAME?
• STUDY & KNOW LOCAL MATERIALS – THEIR AVAILABILITY, PERFORMANCE, COSTS,
TECHNIQUES & WORKMEN WHO KNOW HOW TO USE THEM.
• BUILDING CODES ARE ADVISORY & NOT MANDATORY
• D ON’T ROB NATIONAL RESOURCES - & DO NOT USE THEM EXTRAVAGANTLY OR
UNNECESSARILY.
• BE HONEST & TRUTHFUL IN DESIGN & MATERIAL- USAGE, CONSTRUCTION, COSTS, AND
ABOUT YOUR OWN MISTAKES!
• LOOK CLOSELY AT YOUR OWN PREJUDICES - QUESTION THEM AND SEE IF THEY ARE
STILL JUSTIFIABLE.
• HAVE FAITH IN YOUR OWN CONVICTIONS & HAVE COURAGE TO STICK TO THEM –
BUT RESPECT THOSE OF OTHER PEOPLE.
• MAKE COST-EFFICIENCY YOUR WAY OF LIFE – NOT MERELY “LOW COST FOR THE
POOR”. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH.
• KEEP YOUR INFORMATION & KNOWLEDGE ‘UP-TO- DATE’, BUT MAKE SURE THE
LATEST ‘FASHIONS’ ARE BETTER THAN ESTABLISHED WAYS BEFORE CHANGING.
• DON’T DO THAT WHICH IS NOT NECESSARY - EXPLAIN THIS TO YOUR CLIENTS
WHEN YOU THINK THEIR DEMANDS ETC. ARE NOT NECESSARY.
 ARCHITECTURAL STYLE AND IDEOLOGIES

• MAIN AIM IS TO DESIGN LOW

COST HIGHLY SUISTAINABLE AND
BEAUTIFUL HOMES.

• FOR THE LOWER MIDDLE

CLASS AND LOWER CLASS
SOCIETY PEOPLE.

• IRREGULAR PYRAMID LIKE

STRUCTURES ON ROOFS WITH
ONE SIDE LEFT OPEN FOR
VENTILATION.
• BRICK NET WALLS FOR NATURAL LIGHT AND SHADOW EFFECTS.
• WHICH ALSO ALLOWS AIR TO MOVE FREELY AND MAKING ROOMS COOL.

• LAURIE BAKER`S DESIGNS CONSISTS OF TRADITIONAL SLOPING ROOFS WITH SMALL

VENTS ALLOWING HOT AIR TO ESCAPE.
• ACCORDING TO BAKER, CURVED WALLS PRODUCED MORE AREA THAN STRAIGHT
WALLS.

• RAT TRAP BOND- BRICKS ARE PLACED IN VERTICAL POSITION INSTEAD OF

CONVENTIONAL HORIZONTAL POSITION AND THUS CREATING A CAVITY (HOLLOW
SPACE) WITHIN THE WALL.
 ADVANTAGES OF USING RAT TRAP BOND-

• REQUIRES APPROXIMATELY 25% LESS

BRICKS AND 40% LESS MORTAR THAN
TRADITIONAL MASONRY .
• REDUCED MATERIAL REQUIREMENT
RESULTS IN CONSIDERABLE COST SAVING .
• STRENGTH OF WALL IS NOT COMPROMISED,
IT REMAINS SAME AS TRADITIONAL MASONRY
WALL.
• CAVITY INDUCED IN WALL PROVIDES
BETTER THERMAL INSULATION, RESULTING IN
COOLER INTERIORS DURING SUMMER AND
WARMER INTERIORS DURING WINTER.

FIXTURES OF FRAMELESS DOORS AND WINDOWS-

Frameles
s door
 THE HAMLET
His residence
• THIS IS BAKER'S HOME IN TRIVANDRUM.
• THIS IS REMARKABLE AND UNIQUE HOUSE BUILT ON A PLOT OF LAND ALONG THE
SLOPE OF A ROCKY HILL, WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO WATER.
• HOWEVER BAKER'S GENIUS HAS CREATED A WONDERFUL HOME FOR HIS FAMILY
• MATERIAL USED FROM UNCONVENTIONAL SOURCES .
• FAMILY EATS IN KITCHEN .
• ELECTRICAL CABLING IS NOT CONCEALED.

Main entry to the Hamlet House

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES-

• 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
• USE OF NATURAL LIGHT
• NEVER CUT TREES INSTEAD ADAPTED HIS DESIGN
ACCORDINGLY
• INNER COURTYARD …CLOSE TO NATURE
• ARCHES LED INTO A BEAUTIFUL OPEN ROOM
• COURTYARD HAS MANY GARDENS AND PONDS
• PITCHED ROOF MADE OF MANGALORE TILES
 ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES-

• GABLES FOR PROPER AIR CIRCULATION

AND VENTILATION
• SIMPLE YET BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS
• 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
• MATERIAL USED FROM
UNCONVENTIONAL SOURCES
• FAMILY EATS IN KITCHEN
• ELECTRICITY WIRING IS NOT
CONCEALED
ENTRANCE HAS SMALL SITTING AREA FOR GUESTS STEPS DIRECTLY CUT IN ROCK

THE WALL IS DECORATED FROM BROKEN A CALLING BELL FOR VISITORS TO

POTTERY, PENS, GLASS ANNOUNCE THEIR PRESENCE
 BRICK HOUSE IN WADA

PROJECT TITLE: BRICK HOUSE

LOCATION: WADA , THANE, MAHARASHTRA
SITE AREA: 2 ACRES
BUILT AREA: 2500SQFT
COMPLETION YEAR: 2013

THE INTERIOR IS ORGANIZED AROUND A

CENTRAL COURTYARD WITH A COOLING
WATER FEATURE AND TREE PLANTING.

MIRROR – SET IN THE CURVE

 FILLER SLAB BRICK JALI

RAT TRAP BOND

ARTICULATION OF FORMS – THE CORNER OPENING

AND LOUVERS THAT VENTILATE THE BATH.
REFERENCES-
www.lauriebakerbuildingcentre.com
https://thelogicalindian.com/story-feed/get-inspired/laurie-baker/
https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/article/life-and-works-of-architect-laurie-baker/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Baker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6ni3aFraXE
https://worldarchitecture.org/architecture-projects/gnfc/brick-house-at-wada-project-pages.html
http://nirman.com/blog/2016/10/12/laurie-bakers-architectural-principles/
https://thearchiblog.com/2011/01/09/laurie-baker-the-hamlet/