Laurie Baker was a British-born Indian architect based in Trivandrum, Kerala who practiced from 1917 to 2007. He was known for his sustainable and cost-effective designs that incorporated local materials and blended seamlessly with nature by curving walls around trees rather than cutting them down. Some of his notable works included the Library Tower at the Centre for Development Studies, his own residence called The Hamlet, and the Loyola Chapel.

1. LAURIE WILFRED BAKER
(2 March 1917 – 1 April 2007)
• A British-born Indian architect
• Based in: Trivandrun,Kerala.
• Official website: http://www.lauriebaker.net
• official FB page:
http://www.facebook.com/lauriebakerofficial
• LAURIE BAKER CENTRE:
https://www.lauriebakercentre.org/
lauriebakercentre@gmail.com
• COSTFORD:
http://www.costford.com

2. PHILOSOPHY, WORK STYLE, IDEOLOGIES
• Nature love and cost affection were two of his main philosophies.
• Master in sustainability.
• Innovations/construction techniques: rat-trap bond, filler slabs, corbelling.
WORK STYLE:
• No show-off , simple , functional buildings.
• Did not disturb the levels, worked on natural levels and contours.
• Practiced vernacular architecture, materials used should be brought from within a radius of
5 miles of the site.
• Use of brick jaalis.
• Use of water bodies.
• Did not disturb nature, did not cut trees rather curved the walls around them.
• Buildings are visually sound, blend with nature, good color schemes.
• Played with forms.
MATERIALS:
Bricks, terracotta, mud, concrete, stone

3. CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT
STUDIES

4. THE LIBRARY TOWER AT CENTRE FOR
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

5. CURVING WALLS AROUND TREES

7. THE HAMLET-laurie baker’s residence

8. LOYOLA CHAPEL

9. THE INDIAN
COFFEE HOUSE