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SUBMITTED BY:Y B KAVYA REDDY 080105 D LOWKYA CHATURIKA - 080113
ASSIGNMENT III
INTRODUCTION
Laurence Wilfred "Laurie" Baker (2 March 1917 1 April 2007) was an award-winning British-born Indian architect, renowned for his initiatives in cost-effective energy-efficient architecture and for his unique space utilization and simple but beautiful aesthetic sensibility. In time he made a name for himself both in sustainable architecture as well as in organic architecture. He went to India in 1945 in part as a missionary and since then lived and worked in India for over 50 years. He obtained Indian citizenship in 1989 and resided in Thiruvananthapuram(Trivandrum), Kerala, since 1970, where he later set up an organization called COSTFORD (Centre of Science and Technology for Rural Development), for spreading awareness for low cost housing. In 1990, the Government of India awarded him with the Padma Shri in recognition of his meritorious service in the field of architecture.
EDUCATION
Baker studied architecture at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design,Birmingham and graduated in 1937, aged 20, in a period of political unrest in Europe. His initial commitment to India had him working as an architect for World Leprosy Mission, an international and interdenominational Mission dedicated to the care of those suffering fromleprosy in 1945. As new medicines for the treatment of the disease were becoming more prevalent, his responsibilities were focused on converting or replacing asylums once used to house the ostracized sufferers of the disease - "lepers". Baker had no choice but to observe and learn from the methods and practices of the vernacular architecture.
LEARNING
. He soon learned that the indigenous architecture and methods of these places were in fact the only viable means to deal with his once daunting problems. Inspired by his discoveries (which he modestly admitted were 'discoveries' only for him, and mere common knowledge to those who developed the practices he observed), he began to turn his style of architecture towards one that respected the actual culture and needs of those who would actually use his buildings, rather than just playing to the more "Modern-istic" tunes of his paying clients.
PHYLOSOPHY
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One of his influences has been Mahatma Gandhi, for him proper development can be done if raw material is brought from a place in a range of 5-10 kms. Laurie Bakers architecture was a contemporary version of the vernacular. He draws a creative sustenance from the environment in which he works, absorbing vernacular patterns of construction and individual styles of living to such a degree that he is able to give his clients. The forgotten vernacular techniques were used in his design. He criticized the works of Le Corbusier, his structures were characterless. Another inspiration for him has been ordinary men.
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
Throughout his practice, Baker became well known for designing and building low cost, high quality, beautiful homes, with a great portion of his work suited to or built for lowermiddle to lower class clients. His buildings tend to emphasize prolific - at times virtuosic masonry construction, instilling privacy and evoking history with brick jali walls, a perforated brick screen which invites a natural air flow to cool the buildings' interior, in addition to creating intricate patterns of light and shadow. Another significant Baker feature is irregular, pyramid-like structures on roofs, with one side left open and tilting into the wind.
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
Baker's designs invariably have traditional Indian sloping roofs and terracotta Mangalore tile shingling with gables and vents allowing rising hot air to escape. Curved walls enter Baker's architectural vocabulary as a means to enclose more volume at lower material cost than straight walls. Baker's architectural method is one of improvisation, in which initial drawings have only an idealistic link to the final construction, with most of the accommodations and design choices being made on-site by the architect himself. Compartments for milk bottles near the doorstep, windowsills that double as bench surfaces, and a heavy emphasis on taking cues from the natural condition of the site are just some examples. This saves construction cost as well, since working around difficult site conditions is much more cost-effective.
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
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. Various features of his work such as using recycled material, natural environment control and frugality of design may be seen as sustainable architecture or green building with its emphasis on sustainability. His responsiveness to never-identical site conditions quite obviously allowed for the variegation that permeates his work.
CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
The upturned, horned roofs of buildings as found in Kerala are the direct result of the people of those places, they knew that hot air rises & allowed it to travel upwards from the low eaves to the openings at the ends of the high ridge.
They understood and applied principles of insulation; then roofing materials formed hollow cellular protective layers.
CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
o Using corbelling instead of a lintel above the frame, this reduces the cost of the R.C.C lintel. o Using less number of bricks to make a wall of same thickness and providing cavities in between for insulation.
CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
He used jalis which had many advantages, such as ventilation, enough light, less material required.
Reducing the unnecessary cost of a window with a shutter. Using jali in his walls for proper cross ventilation, enough sun light etc
INNOVATIONS
Baker creates a variety of textures and patterns by simple manipulation of the way in which bricks are placed in the wall.
Laurie Baker used material from other demolished structures. Wood planks from an old boat jetty. He even used old bottles in a structure, which gives a different effect.
ADVANTAGES
Filler slab : Advantages: 20-35% Less materials Decorative, Economical & Reduced self-load Almost maintenance free 25-30% Cost Reduction Jack Arch : Energy saving & Eco-Friendly compressive roofing. Decorative & Highly Economical Maintenance free Masonry Dome : Energy saving eco-friendly compressive roof. Decorative & Highly Economical for larges spans. Maintenance free Funicular shell : Energy saving eco-friendly compressive roof. Decorative & Economical Maintenance free Masonry Arches : Traditional spanning system. Highly decorative & economical Less energy requirement.
PROJECTS
Projects ranging from fishermen's villages to institutional complexes, low cost mud housing schemes to low cost cathedrals. Centre for Development Studies, Ulloor, Trivandrum, 1971.
Houses at Archbishop Compound, Pattom, Trivandrum, 1970. K.N.Raj's residence, Kumarapuram, Trivandrum, 1970. House for R. Narayanan, Golf Links, Trivandrum, 1972-73. Mitraniketan, Vellanad, Trivandrum - 1970 House for Dr A.Vaidyanathan, Kumarapuram, Trivandrum. House for Leela Menon, Golf Links, Trivandrum, 1973-74. House for Beena Sarasan (an Income Tax officer), Kowdiar, Trivandrum, 1989.
THE HAMLET
An architects personality is reflected in the way he designs his own house. 1st built a single room hut of timber. It housed the library of medical books & also as B.R, L.R, D.R & study. The site was highly contoured and rocky, but baker did not disturb even a single rock or a tree, so it is popularly named as right in the rocks. A house was built on the lower contour for the 4 nieces who moved to Trivandrum. One more house was built for his son Tilak which faced the trees.
SITE SELECTION
The incursion of structures on the site is not felt. Baker has managed to confine this building to an area that is easily accessible& yet secluded by the heavy foliage. The journey to Bakers home is like from a concrete jungle of Trivandrum to the freshness & shade of the suburbs. This is remarkable and unique house built on a plot of land along the slope of a rocky hill, with limited access to water.
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 BAKERS FONDNESS OF ARCHES
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
GABLES FOR PROPER AIR CIRCULATION AND VENTILATION SIMPLE YET BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS GRILL MADE OF BITS AND PIECES CONICAL STRUCTURE USED COST EFFECTIVE BAKERS WINDOW LOUVERED WINDOW TYPICAL OF BAKERS 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
DESCRIPTION
Baker was very fond of beautiful carvings which were usually lost when old traditional Kerala houses were destroyed to make modern ones
Even the dog has a well placed jali to let the morning light filter in
The large Kerala-style window at the end of the bedroom provides both light and a good view
DESCRIPTION
The Bakers bedroom resembles a long railway compartment
This door is made from two traditional old Kerala doors when an old building was torn down which Baker bought and joined together to create this unique door
DESCRIPTION
The decoration is made from broken pottery, glass and ceramic The steps leading up to the front door of the hamlet
The entrance has a small sitting area for guests and family
DESCRIPTION
Baker has cut the step directly into the rock face of the sloping plot of land
Entrance
A view from the opposite side. The roof of the garage is done with filler slab
DESCRIPTION
Creative use of waste materials to form grills Use of natural light in exteriors
DESCRIPTION
Some more instances to how Baker utilises light to his advantage Picture of the round room
Baker always designed to utilize sunlight effectively and minimize the need for artificial lighting
DESCRIPTION
Baker never cut down trees, instead adapted his plans, building around them
All the ventilators, doors and windows were designed according to ancient designs of kerala
DESCRIPTION
The courtyard garden has many trees and a pond giving a feeling of being very close to nature
DESCRIPTION
Creative wall fixtures
An improvised Bakers grill made of bits and pieces including a piece of clutch plate
A jali wall
DESCRIPTION
Gables for proper air circulation and ventilation Bakers building were always close to nature
These conical structures are often used by Baker for air circulation
DESCRIPTION
Typical traditional tiling used in South India mostly in areas where sloped
Another cost effective Baker window Simple yet beautiful windows of Bakers type made from waste wooden planks and grills made of thrown away metal pieces
Thank You