LOW COST CONSTRUCTION TEHNIQUES BY PUNEET CHHONKER #7455006961

1. ASSIGNMENT - 11
BUILDING CONST. IV
TOPIC : LOW COST
CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
SUBMITTED BY:SUBMITTED TO:
->PUNEET CHHONKER
->B.ARCH 3rd YR , 5th SEM.
-> Ar. SURJEET SINGH

2. CONTENT
SR.NO. TITLE.
1. DEFINITION
2. ADVANTAGE /DISADVANTAGE
3. FUNICULAR ROOF
4. GEODESIC DOMES
5. FRAMES
6. SWARAN SINGH BLOCK
7. VENE BLOCKS
8. FILLER SLAB
9. COST REDUCTION TECHNIQUES
10. REAMED PILE FOUNDATION
11. RAT – TRAP BOND WALL
12. CONCRETE BLOCK WALLING
13. SOIL CEMENT BLOCK TECHNOLOGY
14. DOORS AND WINDOWS
15. LINTELS AND CHAJJAS

3. The low cost house is the solution for quick developments and poor sections of the population that need
quality housing. Government and aid agencies, which in crisis regions many refugees come forward or
after a natural catastrophe and depend on quick first response help, can produce a quality
accommodation with the low cost house.
LOW COST CONSTRUCTION
Advantages Disadvantages
• no long lasting in comparison of
modern construction
• limited use in high rise building
• not used in special type of
buildings(banks, post office etc)
• made by skilled labours
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF LOW COST CONSTRUCTION

4. FUNICULAR ROOF
FUNICULAR ROOFS-AN ALTERNATE TO RCC ROOFS
THE FUNICULAR SHELL ROOF IS ONE SUCH COMPRESSION
STRUCTURE, WHICH ENSURES CONSERVATION OF NATURAL
RESOURCES BY UTILISING WASTE MATERIALS EFFECTIVELY AND
OPTIMISING THE USE OF EXPENSIVE STEEL AND CEMENT.
FURTHER, THE ARCH DISTRIBUTES
THE POINT LOAD IN ALL DIRECTION EQUALLY THUS, IS ABLE TO
WITHSTAND IMPACT LOADING AT ANY POINT.
•DIAGONAL G RID OF FUNICULAR SHELL GIVES THE ILLUSION OF
A LARGER SPACE.
•ELIMINATE USE OF HIGH-ENERGY STEEL
REINFORCEMENT USED IN THE CONVENTIONAL RCC
ROOF.
•ALLOWS EFFICIENT USE OF WASTE MATERIALS AND PROVIDES
PMIERSONALITY, COLOUR AND TEXTURE.
• NIMISES REQUIREMENT OF INTERNAL PLASTERS.
• PROVIDES ROOFING AT A LOWER COST.
A DOUBLY CURVED STRUCTURE ON EDGE BEAM ENSURES OPTIMAL
UTILISATION OF STEEL AND CEMENT.CAN BE DEMOULDED EVERY 48
HOURS.
A SIMPLE YET SPLENDID ROOFING SYSTEM USING NATURAL MATERIALS
AND
TECHNOLOGY AS OPPOSED TO THE MONOTONOUS AND COMPLEX
CONVENTIONAL SYSTEM.
FUNICULAR SHELLS CAN TAKE ANY SHAPE- SQUARE, RECTANGLE,
TRAPEZIUM, TRIANGULAR OR ANY OTHER SHAPE. THE KNACK LIES IN
THE CASTING OF THE MOULD.
THE UPPER HALF OF THE EDGE BEAM IS REQUIRED TO HOLD THE STIRRUPS. IT IS CAST ALONG WITH
THE FUNICULAR SHELL; THEREFORE, IT CAN ALSO BE A TRIANGULAR SECTION.
THE FUNICULAR SHELL CAN CARRY VARIOUS CONDUITS, TOILET PIPES IN THE AREA ABOVE THE BRICK -
BAT LAYER. THESE CAN RUN ALONG THE PERIPHERY WHERE THE MAXIMUM DEPTH IS AVAILABLE.
FUNICULAR SHELL ROOF FACILITATES THE INSTALLMENT OF FIXTURES LIKE- CEILING FANS LIGHT FIXTURES
ETC. A SKYLIGHT CAN BE INTRODUCED IN THE ROOF. THIS CAN BE ACHIEVED BY LEAVING A HOLLOW
WHILE CASTING, USING THE INHERENT STRENGTH OF A RING IN COMPRESSION.
THE FUNICULAR SHELL ALLOWS AMPLE FLEXIBILITY IN DESIGN

5. GEODESIC DOMES
•THE BASIC TRIANGLE OF AN ICOSAHEDRON IS
SUBDIVIDED INTO SMALLER TRIANGLES AND EACH
NODE LIFTED TO MEET THE SURFACE OF THE SPHERE.
•THE MORE THE SUB-DIVISIONS, THE SMOOTHER THE
DOME. EACH SIDE OF THE SUBDIVIDED TRIANGLE RESULTS
IN A CHORD FACTOR, WHICH IS MULTIPLIED BY THE
RADIUS TO GIVE THE
STRAIGHT LENGTH OF EACH MEMBER.
•EVEN THOUGH AN ICOSAHEDRON HAS BEEN TAKEN AS
THE BASIC STARTING CONFIGURATION, ANY POLYHEDRA
CAN BE USED BUT THE NUMBER OF VARIATIONS IN
PLATE IS LIKELY TO INCREASE DEPENDING ON THE
POLYHEDRA TAKEN FOR THE BASIC GEOMETRY.
•THE NUMBER OF VARIATIONS IN THE JOINT PLATES IS
EVIDENT.
SIMPLE MILD STEEL PLATES ARE USED, WHICH ARE EASY TO FABRICATE CONSIDERING ONLY A HOLE
AND A SLOT HAVE TO BE MADE IN IT.
SINCE THE PLATES ARE DEPRESSING THE STRUCTURAL STEEL NO SUB-STRUCTURE IS REQUIRED TO
ACCOMMODATE ROOFING MATERIAL
THE TOP OF THE STRUCTURAL MEMBER SERVES FOR THE SEAT OF THE ROOFING MATERIAL.
A SIMPLE HOLE AND SLOT IN THE PLATES PROVIDE FOR VARIATIONS IN ANGLES. THE HOLE FIXES
THE DISTANCE AND
THE SLOT PROVIDES ADJUSTMENT FOR THE ANGLES.
BY CURVING THE INNER AND OUTER PLATES AND MOVING THE SLOT AND THE HOLE BY FEW
MILLIMETRES CLOSER
TO THE CENTRE, THE BOLTS ARE MADE TO CONVERGE TOWARDS THE CENTRE OF THE
SPHERE.
! MEMBERS CAN BE DOUBLED IN DEPTH IF REQUIRED.

6. A FRAMES
•ARE WELDED FROM INCEPTION. THESE MEMBERS ARE
MORE RESILIENT THAN REINFORCED CEMENT CONCRETE
AND HAVE A LARGER STRENGTH EVEN WITHOUT THE
CONCRETE COMPONENT.
•THIS FORM OF REINFORCEMENT CONSUMES
30% LESS STEEL.
•THEY PROVIDE FOR A SIMPLE ASSEMBLY OF BEAMS
WITH CONTINUITY BARS AT JUNCTIONS IN VARIOUS
DIRECTIONS AND REQUIRE MINIMUM FORMWORK FOR
FILLING.
•THEY ARE STABLE WITHOUT CONCRETE AS CONCRETE IS
REDUCED TO A FILLER MATERIAL.
•THE MEMBERS CAN BE FILLED WITH CONCRETE AT ANY
POINT OF TIME SUBSEQUENTLY.
Framing, in construction, is
the fitting together of pieces
to give a structure support
and shape. Framing
materials are
usually wood, engineered
wood, or structural steel.
The alternative to framed
construction is generally
called mass wall
construction, where
horizontal layers of stacked
materials such as log
building, masonry, rammed
earth, adobe, etc. are used
without framing.
Light-frame materials are most often
wood or rectangular steel, tubes or C-
channels. Wood pieces are typically
connected with nail fastener nails or
screws; steel pieces are connected with
nuts and bolts. Preferred species for
linear structural members are softwoods
such as spruce, pine and fir. Light frame
material dimensions range from 38 by
89 mm (1.5 by 3.5 in); i.e., a Dimensional
number two-by-four to 5 cm by 30 cm
(two-by-twelve inches) at the cross-
section, and lengths ranging from 2.5
metres (8.2 ft) for walls to 7 metres
(23 ft) or more for joists and rafters.
Recently, architects have begun
experimenting with pre-cut modular
aluminum framing to reduce on-site
construction costs.

7. SWARAN SINGH BLOCK
•TAKE A SIMPLE, MANUALLY OPERATED BLOCK MAKING
MACHINE AS AVAILABLE WITH MOST OF THE BUILDING
CENTRES
•TAKE A STIFF PVC SHEET OR RED MUD PLASTIC SHEET
CUT TO THE SIZE OF THE BASE OF THE MOULD.
• COAT IT WITH USED MOBIL OIL TO
PREVENT ADHESION AND FACILITATE EASY DEMOULDING
FROM THE SURFACE OF THE BLOCK.
•STONE PIECES OF DIFFERENT COLORS AND ARRANGE
THEM IN PATTERNS AS MAY BE DESIREDFOR THE
PURPOSE OF ARTICULATION OF MATERIALS.
•PREPARE A 1: 3 MIX OF CEMENT AND SAND MORTAR.
POUR THE MORTAR EVENLY OVER THE STONE CHIPS
•THE VIBRATION HELPS INTEGRATION OF THE
STONE
•PIECES WITH THE CEMENT MORTAR TO FORM AN
IMPERMEABLE
DIAPHRAGM..
•PREPARE ANOTHER MIX OF MUD WITH 2% CEMENT
OR 5% LIME OR
THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO. THIS MIX FORMS
THE MAJOR
PORTION OF THE BODY OF THE BLOCK. .
•TAKE A JUTE PIECE LITTLE SMALLER
THAN THE SIZE OF THE BASE AND DIP
IT IN CEMENT SLURRY. PLACE THE JUTE
PIECE IN THE MOULD AND FILL THE
REST OF THE MOULD WITH THE SAME
MIX TO ABOUT 2/3 RD OF THE MOULD
AND ADD ANOTHER LAYER OF JUTE
DIPPED IN CEMENT SLURRY.
•NOW FILL THE MOULD TO THE TOP.
LOCK THE LID AND USE THE
COMPRESSOR TO COMPRESS THE
BLOCK
•SURFACE OF THE WALL AND WILL
REQUIRE A FLASH COAT LATER IF AT ALL,
ONLY TO EVEN OUT THE SURFACE.

8. VENE BLOCKS
•THE VENE BLOCK IS ESSENTIALLY AN
ADOBE BLOCK MAKING MECHANISM
THAT IS SIMPLE AND EFFICIENT.
•IT COMPRISES OF A MOULD MADE OF TIMBER. THE
MOULD IS USED TO MAKE THE ADOBE BLOCKS RIGHT
WHERE THE WALL IS TO BE ERECTED, AND RELIES ON
A SIMPLE NON-MECHANISED PROCEDURE.
•THE MOULD IS PLACED WHERE REQUIRED AND THEN
EARTH MIXTURE IS POURED IN AND COMPACTED
WITHIN THE
MOULD.
•ONCE THE MOULD IS FILLED AND ALL THE EARTH
WITHIN COMPACTED, THE MOULD IS LIFTED OUT AND
MOVED AHEAD TO MAKE THE NEXT BLOCK.
•THE SAME PROCESS IS REPEATED. THE MOULD
ENSURES THAT THE BLOCKS ARE LAID PRECISELY
AND GIVES IT A CLEANER FINISH THAN THE ROUGH,
HAND COMPACTED ADOBE WALLS.
•BY INTEGRATING THE RAM LOCHAN TILE INTO THE
VENE BLOCK MAKING PROCESS, PLACING THE TILE
INTO THE MOULD BEFORE WE START COMPACTING
THE EARTH, WE PROTECT THE ADOBE WALL FROM
EROSION.
•THE RAM LOCHAN TILE IS A FABRICATED ON
SITE A SIMPLE MOULD. TO ACCOMMODATE
THIS 10 MM TILE TILE, THE SIZE OF THE VENE
BLOCK MOULD IS INCREASED SLIGHTLY.
•BOTH THE REGULAR AND THE CORNER
MOULDS ARE MODIFIED IN THIS MANNER.
THE RAM LOCHAN TILE IS ALSO MODIFIED TO
ALLOW FOR TWO DOVETAIL LOCKS.
•FOR THE CORNERS ONE OF THE DOVETAILS
IS MADE SHORTER TO ALLOW FOR A CLEAN
JOINT.THE LOWER DOVETAIL OF THE TILE
ALLOWS FOR A PRECISE OVERLAPPING OF
THE TILES.
•THE RAM LOCHAN TILE IS
INSERTED INTO THE VENE
BLOCK MOULD DURING
CONSTRUCTION AND IS
MADE TO OVERLAP THE
LOWER COURSE BY HALF
AN INCH .

9. FILLER SLAB
Filler slab is alternate slab construction technology where part of
concrete in bottom of slab is replaced by filler material. The basic
principal of filler slab is that the concrete in bottom half of RCC
slab is structurally not required (concrete acts as compression
material which is required in top half portion of slab). So this
portion concrete is replaced by low cost, light weight filler
material (like mangalore tile, clay pots etc. Total concrete required
in this technology is about 30% less than conventional slab
construction. Due to reduced concrete, self weight of the slab is
reduced and thus about 40% less steel is required, without
compromising strength of the slab. This technology was used by
Architect Laurie Baker in Kerala extensively.
CONSTRUCTION OF FILLER SLAB
Once the shuttering is done, the
reinforcements are laid in grid form. The
size of grid depends on structural design
and size of filler material. For example,
grid of 35cm X 50cm is used for
magalore tile as filler material and grid
of 45cm X 45cm is used for clay pots of
40cm diameter filler. The filler material
to be soaked in water before casting so
that it does not absorb water from
concrete. Then the slab is cast with
cement concrete similar to traditional
concrete slabs.

10. COST REDUCTION TECHNIQUES
FOUNDATION
NORMALLY THE FOUNDATION COST COMES TO ABOUT 10 TO 15% OF THE TOTAL BUILDING
AND USUALLY FOUNDATION DEPTH OF 3 TO 4 FT. IS ADOPTED FOR SINGLE OR DOUBLE
STOREY BUILDING AND ALSO THE CONCRETE BED OF 6″(15 CMS.) IS USED FOR THE
FOUNDATION WHICH COULD BE AVOIDED.
IT IS RECOMMENDED TO ADOPT A FOUNDATION DEPTH OF 2 FT.(0.6M) FOR NORMAL SOIL
LIKE GRAVELY SOIL, RED SOILS ETC.,
USE THE UNCOURSED RUBBLE MASONRY WITH THE BOND STONES AND GOOD PACKING.
SIMILARLY THE FOUNDATION WIDTH IS RATIONALIZED TO 2 FT.(0.6M).
TO AVOID CRACKS FORMATION IN FOUNDATION THE MASONRY SHALL BE THOROUGHLY
PACKED WITH CEMENT MORTAR OF 1:8 BOULDERS AND BOND STONES AT REGULAR
INTERVALS.
IT IS FURTHER SUGGESTED TO ADOPT ARCH FOUNDATION IN ORDINARY SOIL FOR
EFFECTING REDUCTION IN CONSTRUCTION COST UP TO 40%.
THIS KIND OF FOUNDATION WILL HELP IN BRIDGING THE LOOSE POCKETS OF SOIL WHICH
OCCURS ALONG THE FOUNDATION.
IN THE CASE OF BLACK COTTON AND OTHER SOFT SOILS IT IS RECOMMEND TO USE UNDER
REAM PILE FOUNDATION WHICH SAVES ABOUT 20 TO 25% IN COST OVER THE
CONVENTIONAL METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION.
REAMED PILE FOUNDATION
There are basically two types of under-ream piles depending on the method used for its casting and
positioning
Precast under-reamed piles ,
Cast-in-situ under-reamed piles
Pre-cast under ream piles require special pile driving equipment, but have an advantage that in this case
no need to drill and bore thus time will be saved.

11. WALLING
•WALL THICKNESS OF 6 TO 9″ IS RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WALLS ALL-
ROUND THE BUILDING AND 41/2 ” FOR INSIDE WALLS.
•IT IS SUGGESTED TO USE BURNT BRICKS WHICH ARE IMMERSED IN WATER FOR 24 HOURS AND
THEN SHALL BE USED FOR THE WALLS
RAT – TRAP BOND WALL
•IT IS A CAVITY WALL CONSTRUCTION WITH ADDED
ADVANTAGE OF THERMAL COMFORT AND REDUCTION
IN THE QUANTITY OF BRICKS REQUIRED FOR MASONRY
WORK.
•BY ADOPTING THIS METHOD OF BONDING OF BRICK
MASONRY COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL ENGLISH OR
FLEMISH BOND MASONRY, IT IS POSSIBLE TO REDUCE IN THE
MATERIAL COST OF BRICKS BY 25% AND ABOUT 10TO 15% IN
THE MASONRY COST.
•BY ADOPTING RAT-TRAP BOND METHOD ONE CAN
CREATE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING WALL SURFACE AND
PLASTERING CAN BE AVOIDED.
COMPARISON

12. • CONCRETE BLOCK WALLING
• IN VIEW OF HIGH ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY BURNT BRICK IT IS SUGGESTED TO USE CONCRETE
BLOCK (BLOCK HOLLOW AND SOLID) WHICH CONSUMES ABOUT ONLY 1/3 OF THE ENERGY OF THE
BURNT BRICKS IN ITS PRODUCTION.
• BY USING CONCRETE BLOCK MASONRY THE WALL THICKNESS CAN BE REDUCED FROM 20 CMS TO 15
CMS.
• CONCRETE BLOCK MASONRY SAVES MORTAR CONSUMPTION, SPEEDY CONSTRUCTION OF WALL
RESULTING IN HIGHER OUTPUT OF LABOUR, PLASTERING CAN BE AVOIDED THEREBY AN OVERALL
SAVING OF 10 TO 25% CAN BE ACHIEVED.
SOIL CEMENT BLOCK TECHNOLOGY
•IT IS AN ENERGY EFFICIENT METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION
WHERE SOIL MIXED WITH 5% AND ABOVE CEMENT AND
PRESSED IN HAND OPERATED MACHINE AND CURED
WELL AND THEN USED IN THE MASONRY.
•THIS MASONRY DOESN’T REQUIRE PLASTERING ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE WALL.
•THE OVERALL ECONOMY THAT COULD BE ACHIEVED
WITH THE SOIL CEMENT TECHNOLOGY IS ABOUT 15 TO
20%

13. DOORS AND WINDOWS
•IT IS SUGGESTED NOT TO USE WOOD FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS AND IN ITS PLACE CONCRETE
OR STEEL SECTION FRAMES SHALL BE USED FOR ACHIEVING SAVING IN COST UP TO 30 TO 40%.
•SIMILIARLY FOR SHUTTERS COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE BLOCK BOARDS, FIBRE OR WOODEN PRACTICAL
BOARDS ETC., SHALL BE USED FOR REDUCING THE COST BY ABOUT 25%.
•BY ADOPTING BRICK JELLY WORK AND PRECAST COMPONENTS EFFECTIVE VENTILATION COULD BE
PROVIDED TO THE BUILDING AND ALSO THE CONSTRUCTION COST COULD BE SAVED UP TO 50% OVER
THE WINDOW COMPONENTS.
•ALUMINIUM, IRON, CONCRETE FRAMES CAN BE USED
LINTELS AND CHAJJAS
•THE TRADITIONAL R.C.C. LINTELS WHICH ARE COSTLY CAN BE REPLACED BY BRICK ARCHES FOR
SMALL SPANS AND SAVE CONSTRUCTION COST UP TO 30 TO 40% OVER THE TRADITIONAL
METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION.
•BY ADOPTING ARCHES OF DIFFERENT SHAPES A GOOD ARCHITECTURAL PLEASING
APPEARANCE CAN BE GIVEN TO THE EXTERNAL WALL SURFACES OF THE BRICK MASONRY.

14. LAURIE BAKER
•LAURIE BAKER, AN ARCHITECT FROM
BIRMINGHAM, NOW SETTLED IN
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, HAS EFFECTIVELY
COMBINED TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES WITH
INDIGENOUS INNOVATIONS AND HAS MANAGED
TO BRING DOWN THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION BY
HALF.
•HIS TECHNIQUES NOT ONLY USE CHEAPER
MATERIALS BUT ALSO ELIMINATE REDUNDANT
DETAILS FROM THE DESIGN.
•CONCRETE IS RARELY USED. MANGALORE TILES
ARE USED FOR THE ROOF WHICH MAKES IT LIGHT
AND INEXPENSIVE.
•HIS APPROACH AND SIMPLE PRINCIPLES TO LOW COST HOUSING ARE GANDHIAN, WHICH CAN BE
ADOPTED BY EVERY BUILDER. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE MAINSTAY OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF
HIS HOUSES.
•PLANNING OF SPACE– LESSER WALLS, MULTIPLE USES OF SPACE, SHORT SPANS OF ROOF,
AGGLOMERATION OF BUILDING SERVICES, FLEXIBILITY IN GROWTH.
•LOCAL BUILDING MATERIAL– BRICKS, TILES, LIME, SURKHI, TIMBER, THATCH, STONE, PALM, MUD.
•BRICKS AND JALIS – PLAY OF LIGHT AND SHADE, UNIDIRECTIONAL VISION.
•UNPLASTERED WALLS.
•LINTELS AND ARCHES.
•ATTENTION TO DETAILS.
BAKER’S WORKS INCLUDE, PRIVATE RESIDENCES, SOME INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS, LIKE ‘CENTER FOR
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES’, KERALA. HE IS VERY ACTIVE IN THE WORKS OF ALL THE BUILDING CENTERS
WORKING IN KERALA AS WELL AS IN THE OTHER PARTS OF COUNTRY. RATHER IT WAS HIS INITIAL EFFORT
TO PROMOTE THE LOW COST HOUSING IN INDIA, WHERE HOUSING IS A BIG PROBLEM.
• HIS TECHNIQUES NOT ONLY USE CHEAPER MATERIALS BUT ALSO ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY DETAILS
FROM THE DESIGN. CONCRETE IS SPARINGLY USED. MANGALORE TILES ARE USED FOR THE ROOF WHICH
MAKES IT LIGHT AND INEXPENSIVE.
• HIS PROJECTS FOR LOW COST BUILDINGS INCLUDE
1. CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES – TRIVANDRUM 2. 'THE HAMLET', LAURIE BAKER'S HOME
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES -
TRIVANDRUM -1975
• LESLIE BAKER’S ‘MASTERPIECE,’ THE CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT
STUDIES IN KERALA, IS A 10 ACRE CAMPUS AT A COST OF RS15
LAKHS, DEMONSTRATED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HIS PLAN. • THE
INSTITUTE INCLUDES A RESEARCH INSTITUTE. A GRADUATE
SCHOOL DEDICATED TO UTILIZING THE STUDY OF ECONOMICS TO
HELP THE POOR.

15. MAIN FEATURES OF THIS BUILDING:
•HE DESIGNED THE BUILDINGS AT THE CENTRE TO PRACTICALLY
COOL THEM.
•HE RENDERS JALIS, A PERFORATED WOODEN SCREEN FOUND IN
TRADITIONAL INDIAN ARCHITECTURE, IN BRICK;
•THE OPEN GRILLWORK ALLOWS COOL BREEZES TO WAFT INTO THE
INTERIOR WHILE FILTERING HARSH, DIRECT SUNLIGHT.
•SOME BUILDINGS INCLUDE A SERIES OF SMALL COURTYARDS
CONTAINING SHALLOW POOLS IN THE CENTER, WHOSE
EVAPORATION HELPS COOL THE AIR.
•PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE EXISTING SITE AS HE BEGAN TO
DESIGN THE PROJECT, BAKER LEFT AS MANY COCONUT PALM TREES
IN PLACE AS POSSIBLE TO CAST COOLING SHADE ONTO THE
CAMPUS
THE COMPUTER CENTRE AT THE CENTRE FOR
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. HERE BAKER
EVOLVED AN INNOVATIVE SYSTEM OF CURVED
DOUBLE WALLS TO SAVE ON COST AND TO
CONSERVE THE ENERGY .
• IN EVALUATING THE CAMPUS FOR THE
CENTRE, BAKER PLANNED ROADS ALONG THE
LOWER, WHILE FOOTPATHS WERE ROUTED
ALONG NATURALLY OCCURRING ELEVATED
AREAS; FOLLOWING THE NATURAL
TOPOGRAPHY HELPS TO LIMIT EROSION AND
DESPOILMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
COMPUTER CENTER

16. •BRICKWALLS WERE LEFT UNPLASTERED AND
BRICK CORBELLING WAS USED RATHER THAN
MORE EXPENSIVE CONCRETE LINTELS. •WITH HIS
MASTERY OVER HIS MEDIUM, BAKER CREATES A
VARIETY OF TEXTURES AND PATTERNS BY SIMPLE
MANIPULATION OF THE WAY IN WHICH BRICKS
ARE PLACED IN THE WALL. •THE ARCHITECTURE OF
THIS ACADEMIC COMPLEX WAS CONCEIVED AS A
DEMONSTRATION OF ECONOMICALLY
RESPONSIBLE BUILDING PRACTICES.
BAKER’S HOUSE “THE HAMLET”
BAKER HAS TRULY ADOPTED HIS MOTTO TO “MAKE
LOW-COSTERY A HABIT AND A WAY OF LIFE” BY
REUSING EVERYTHING, FROM BRICK TO GLASS
BOTTLES, AS BUILDING MATERIALS.
KEY FEATURES OF HIS HOUSE ARE:
ALL THE WALLS ARE MADE OF MUD BRICKS.
TIMBER SALVAGED FROM AN OLD BOAT JETTY.
BAKERS OWN RESIDENCE IS CALLED “THE HAMLET“. IT IS
BEEN BUILT IN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, BUILT ON A
STEEPLY SLOPING AND ROCKY HILLSIDE THAT HARDLY
HAD ANY VEGETATION WHEN BAKER STARTED
CONSTRUCTING.
• ONE OF THE OTHER SIGNATURE ELEMENTS OF HIS
DESIGN INCLUDES THE USE OF CIRCULAR WALLS,
WHICH USE FAR LESS BRICK THAN RECTANGULAR
WALLS.
• IN ADDITION, WHEN HE DOES USE CONCRETE
FOR A ROOF, HE EMBEDS CHIPPED OR BROKEN
TERRA COTTA ROOFING TILES INTO THE MIXTURE.
• THESE TILES, WHICH
NORMALLY WOULD BE
THROWN AWAY,
CONTRIBUTE TO THE
STRENGTH OF THE ROOF,
ALLOW LESS OF THE
EXPENSIVE CONCRETE TO
BE USED, AND REDUCE
THE STRUCTURAL LOAD
OF THE BUILDING.
• HE USED BROKEN TILES
FOR THE OUTER PAVED
AREA OF HIS GARDEN.

17. •HE MADE AN EXTENSIVE USE OF TIMBER IN HIS HOUSE,
LIKE IN THE LIVING ROOM OF HOUSE, THE DETAILING IN
WOOD AND MUD BRICKS ARE WONDERFUL. •THE LIVING
ROOM, AN INTEGRATION OF NEW BUILDING AND
SALVAGED TIMBER FROM TRADITIONAL BUILDINGS THAT
WERE BEING DEMOLISHED. •BAKER'S INNOVATIVE USE OF
DISCARDED BOTTLES, INSET IN THE WALLS GIVING A VERY
GOOD EFFECT OF LIGHT AND CREATING AN ILLUSION OF
STAINED GLASS.
~Puneet Chhonker