The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Government help sought to set up Baker institute

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 26, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Government help sought to set up Baker institute

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government should give all possible assistance in the setting up of an institute of architecture to further the message and philosophy of the late Laurie Baker, CPI(M) district secretary Pirappancode Murali has said.

He was speaking at a Baker memorial meeting organised here on Wednesday by COSTFORD.

In his inaugural address Chief Minister V.S. Achuthandan described Laurie Baker as a peerless talent who rewrote the Malayali's concept of building houses. The Baker model of building houses was one that was in tune with the earth and with nature. It was environment-friendly and climate-friendly. Baker was able to merge his inimitable designs with cost-effective building techniques.

"However we should introspect and find out how much we were able to imbibe Laurie Baker who worked in Kerala for more than four decades," Mr. Achuthanandan said.

Minister for Education M.A. Baby said the best memorial for people like Baker is their work. Like Gandhiji and Che Guevera, Baker too was influenced by the extensive travels he undertook.

"There are traces of India's independence movement in Baker, there is the magic touch of Gandhiji in him. We can also see the values of Kerala's Renaissance movement in him," Mr. Baby said. Forest Minister Binoy Viswom, Mayor C. Jayan Babu, V. Sivankuty, MLA, and R.V.G. Menon were among those who spoke on the occasion.

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