One of the most intriguing people I have known indirectly has died. I came to know this through Chetan
Laurie Baker passed away this morning.
Baker was a well known architect who made my humble hometown(Trivandrum/Thiruvananthapuram) his hometown. Read this article for a peek into his life. He was born British, and he died an Indian – having made India his home in the 60s. He had a house in Trivandrum. His architectural principles spread wide and fast in Kerala, as his houses were cheap to build and very efficient. They looked of the earth – natural, and fit into the landscape of Kerala much more naturally.
This picture of his house reminds me best of how his designs looked like – they looked unlike any other house you might have seen before – warm, earthy, cool even in the harshest of summers, and very natural. I would very much have loved to live in one of those houses. A close friend of mine lived in one such house – commonly known as “Baker Model” houses.
He will best be remembered for the low-cost, energy efficient, environment friendly, cool houses and offices he designed. Thank you, Laurie-ji.
That house in the picture looks well planned with much details for eyes. Building materials could be low-cost, but like they say: “it’s not what you get but what you make of it”.
Cartik, I am sure you’d love this book:
The Other Side of Laurie Baker
Memoirs
by Elizabeth Baker
ISBN 81-264-1462-6
Rs. 90.00
Publishers
DC Books, Kottayam 686 001
Kerala State, India
website : http://www.dcbooks.com
e-mail : info@dcbooks.com
online bookstore : http://www.dcbookstore.com