Iconic building designed by Laurie Baker set to fall to make way for apartment in Thiruvananthapuram

In the centenary year of architect Laurie Baker, one of the first residences he designed is being brought down, to make way for a flat. The circular building located on the left side of the Kesadavadasapuram – Ulloor Road brings together all the elements that the Baker model has been known for.

According to architect P.B. Sajan, Joint Director of Centre of Science and Technology For Rural Development (COSTFORD), the house was constructed in the early 1970s at a cost of just ₹10,000.

“It consists of three floors, constructed using unplastered bricks, placed in flemish bond.

The house was owned by one Namboodiri. He had a clear idea of his requirements, including the rooms for his children. All of that was achieved in such a small cost, which was a wonder even during that time. The new owners of many of the early Baker houses have later plastered or made other alterations to it. But, this was one of the few from that time which survived as such,” said Mr. Sajan.

The house was a talk among the architects during that time. It even found a place on the cover of a Malayalam magazine which carried a long article on Baker.

Sajan and other students of Baker had made an attempt to salvage the construction material and create a replica at another place, but the move proved unsuccessful.