'BRICKMAN OF INDIA' REMEMBERED ON HIS 101ST BIRTHDAY
BAKER - ARCHITECT WHO WALKED
AHEAD OF HIS TIME: SHANKAR
"Beyond simplicity and sustainability, Laurie Baker was an Architect of Happiness," said G Shankar, while delivering the remembrance talk to commemorate the 101st birthday of the legendary architect.
“A journey with Laurie Baker is very critical for any student of architecture. His buildings continuously engage us in conversations. He was the only architect, as far as I know, whose
buildings manifest happiness, peace and contentment," Shankar elaborated at the commemoration
organise by Habitat Technology Group at College of Architecture Trivandrum (CAT) Campus on 1st
March 2019.
Among those invited to speak on the occasion were noted poet Neerada Suresh and the Rev Bishop Dr Samuel T Varghese, both of them Baker's clients. Also present at the event was architect George J Chittoor, who was fortunate to work with the legend during his engineering days.
Striking a personal note, Shankar said not only that Laurie Baker still remains a source of inspiration for him but also his vision and
farsightedness had often helped him come out of moments of crises.
“It is very common for an architect to get into crisis at any time. Even at my age... with my experience I do get into crisis once in a while. I recharge myself by visiting one of Baker's constructions. His buildings continue to inspire people. It is very important to remember Baker because he was a legend who walked ahead of times. Decades before we started talking about sustainable architecture, Baker was experimenting the various techniques in each of his constructions,“ Shankar said.
Sharing the views of Shankar, the Rev Bishop Dr Samuel T Varghese, who got Baker to build his Palakveedu - Day Care for elderly people, and the House of God - a church, recollected how Baker had solved their water shortage problem faced by these projects located on a hilly site. Rain water harvesting was beautifully executed even before we heard about the term, he said.
Neerada Suresh shed light on the most often asked question about Laurie Baker as to why he chose to spend his life in Kerala. She recalled
that when her house was completed, Baker brought is wife to have a look at his creation. She still remembers the excitement and the sparkle that filled Baker's eyes when he was showing Elizabeth Jacob, his wife, the unique features of the house. Neerada says it was nothing but his love for his wife that made him stay here.
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