Laurie Baker’s contribution to the continuation of vernacular architecture in India

Abstract

Vernacular architecture is a response to the facts of local geography and climate. The house form, materials and techniques of construction used in vernacular architecture are an effective response through appropriate or sustainable technology. Fascination with Western modernity has excluded this reality from architecture and planning in India. Laurie Baker’s faithful continuation of his responsibility to build for India according to Gandhi’s advice needs to be understood as a practical and economic solution to India’s housing problem. This paper looks at the contribution of Laurie Baker to the continuation of vernacular architecture.

Keywords:

• Laurie Baker
• Vernacular architecture
• Housing
• Planned evolution

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Dr Michael Brett-Crowther for his support and astute advice in framing the investigation.

All photographs are by Aryan Hosseinalipour and are used with his permission.