Sculpting With Bricks
Nisar Khan
MASTERPIECE OF A MASTER ARCHITECT: CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES by Jayesh S. Pillai COSTFORD and Laurie Baker Centre for Habitat Studies, 2015, 130 pp., 650
February 2015, volume 39, No 2

This book is a monograph on the architecture of Centre for Development Studies designed by architect Laurie Baker. The Centre for Development Studies is regarded as a masterpiece of Laurie Baker and this book offers a documentation of the project. The project is compiled in the book in the
form of many photographs and drawings of various buildings of CDS.

Laurence Wilfred Baker or Laurie Baker as he was affectionately known was born and educated in England but chose to practice in India his entire life. The 90 years of inspiring life of Baker is provided as a chronological biography in the first chapter in the book. The awards and accolades received by him are listed along with the major life events.Although the book is about only one of his projects; all the projects accomplished by Baker are appended as a list in the last section of the book. The positions held by him in various government and non-government agencies are also mentioned in the list providing an insight into the multiplicity of roles he played in his professional life.
Laurie Baker was a Master Architect who worked in the alternative building construction technology all his life. Besides, being cost-efficient and environmentally sustainable, the buildings of Baker are aesthetically pleasing in their own traditional and rustic sense.The architecture of Laurie Baker did not evolve from formal training, but was a result of the response towards the environmental and economic efficiency. He was a rebel in a sense to the concrete-jungle construction. The book discusses the philosophy and ideology of Baker in one of the chapters. Much before the concepts of sustainability became standard practice in the building construction industry Baker’s work was illustrative of ecological and social consciousness. Baker never compromised on his philosophies and his architecture is a reflection of his Gandhian simplicity. In the current scenario of impending environmental crisis, Baker’s architectural philosophies are highly relevant. This book is a gentle reminder to the professionals of their responsibility towards environment and society.
The technology used by Baker was evolved from the vernacular technology of the place. His technology is not found in the theory and codes followed by engineers and architects. The book presents an opportunity to the students and practitioners of architecture to study his technology. It contains detailed drawings of the Centre for Development Studies providing an important resource for architectural study. The drawings—plans, sections and elevations are given on a legible scale along with legends, resembling an architectural portfolio.
However, these drawings don’t appear to be the original drafting of Laurie Baker but reproduced for the publication. It would have been worthwhile to publish some of the original drawings of Baker, as original drawing specimen of legendary architects carry artistic and academic value. This aspect becomes more important since it is known that Baker used to spend considerable time on the site guiding masons through hand-drawn sketches. Such sketches carry important information about Baker’s signature technology.
Evolution of the CDS campus is described in a separate section along with site-plans. The description also highlights Baker’s response to the prevalent site conditions like topography and vegetation.
The book uses many photographs to convey the salient attributes of the Baker’s architecture. Photographs cover exterior as well as interior spaces. The harmonious relationship of nature with the building is highlighted through pictures. The versatile use of bricks is also covered. A separate section called ‘Gallery of Jalis’ contains photographs showing various types of brick-jali employed by Baker which became the signature aspect of his architecture.
The book provides the design narrative supplementing the drawing and photographs. The narrative could have been more elaborate considering the rich attributes of Baker’s architecture. Baker was a sculptor with bricks; his buildings are a soulful rendition of human habitation.
The architecture of Laurie Baker is timeless. It is a manifestation of sustainable architecture in the true sense.

Nisar Khan is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Architecture & Ekistics, Jamia Millia Islamia.

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