Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Our exploration of Kerala has been focused on the architecture of
Laurie Baker, founder of COSTFORD. Baker developed unique design
elements and construction techniques that minimize the financial cost
and environmental impact of buildings.
Baker's buildings are site-specific: they reflect topographical and climatic conditions in their location.
Preservation of natural conditions (respecting topography, not disturbing groundwater, preserving existing flora)
Visual connections to exterior:
Courtyards are ubiquitous in Baker's buildings:
The
engineering and construction of Baker's buildings are also
eco-sensitive. Foundations, walls and roofs are often reinforced with
construction-grade bamboo instead of structural steel.
Roofs:
cement, which has a high financial and environmental cost to produce,
is only used for reinforcement, otherwise terra cotta slabs are used as
filler.
Walls: locally-sourced adobe bricks are arranged to maximize structural stability with less material:
Architectural
elements of his buildings are eco-sensitive in their material and
design. Baker employed materials with low embodied energy (energy used
to produce and dispose of), local materials and recycled materials:
His
buildings maximize energy conservation through site planning (for
example, using the south Indian science of vaste shastra, the "science
of building," which dictates good architectural design similar to
Chinese Feng Shui). Baker's buildings also use passive cooling,
alternate sources of energy and day lighting. Elements of water
conservation and waste recycling are also visible.
Overall, Baker's architecture is not only practical but attractive:
Source: http://willinindia.blogspot.in/2011/01/costford-model-eco-friendly-low-cost.html
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