[iwanttogoback]

i've just been devouring one of my books from the bookshop of india (bookshop of india online), a biography of the architect laurie baker who practiced in southern india for most of his life.

he worked largely with the poor, adapting local materials and technologies to work with the inhabitants to create marvellous homes. i found his work whilst researching brick, one of my odd passions.

if you are at all interested in indian architecture, vernacular architecture, low cost housing, brick, or just interested in some beautiful architecture, check out the website laurie baker, architect.

you will never think of low cost housing in the same way again.

here's a taste:

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[Hyderabadi]

Isn't he the same architect who built "terracotta houses"?
That is, build the house with clay and then bake (no pun intended) it?
Or is it someone else?

[iwanttogoback]

i think it may have been someone else. however, i haven't finished the book! looking at the photos in the book and on the website it appears that everything is brick, turned to magic.

now, didn't we have the baking of terracotta conversation sometime recently?

[torryquine]

Thanks IWTGB, I enjoyed the website (and the link to the Indian Books Online - dangerous!!)

His style reminds me of William Morris / the Arts and Crafts movement.

[Somerset]

Thanks for this! I really enjoyed the photos of his compound.

[iwanttogoback]

Quote

Thanks for this! I really enjoyed the photos of his compound.

lovely isn't it? i just love that hit work shows that you don't need expensive materials and finishes to create beauty.

[Somerset]

iwanttogoback, on Jan 14 2008, 11:27 PM, said:

lovely isn't it? i just love that hit work shows that you don't need expensive materials and finishes to create beauty.

It reminded me a bit of Nityagram, the dance village outside Bangalore. Simple materials, but beauty in the design and composition of the setting as a whole.

[iwanttogoback]

Quote

It reminded me a bit of Nityagram, the dance village outside Bangalore. Simple materials, but beauty in the design and composition of the setting as a whole.

now that could be because he designed it.

[archigirl]

Hey iwanttogoback,

So happy to find another person on this board who has discovered the genius of Baker!

In case you haven't seen it check out the video biography of this great man here

http://www.youtube.c...ristinaFosterau

[dzibead]

Interesting set of videos!

[iwanttogoback]

hi archigirl, welcome to the tree, and thanks for those videos. unfortunately my sound card is not working, but just looking at the images was interesting, and i'll check them out at work during the work.

how did you come to be interested in laurie baker?