Benny Kuriakose Remembers Laurie Baker - The Hindu

April 6, 2007, 6:30:00 PM

When landscapes the world over began to look the same, visionaries like the late Laurie Baker insisted on giving them an unmistakable local touch. Laurie Baker, an acclaimed architect known for his noteworthy contributions to sustainable architecture, helped mould Dr Benny Kuriakose into the designer he is today. In conversation with Ranjani Govind for The Hindu, Benny Kuriakose talks about his mentor, Laurie Baker, 'The Gandhian Master builder' and his design philosophy and process. He truly believes that the Bakers’ legacy will continue for generations.

"I am exactly the mould of Laurie Baker. Whatever the improvisations and added features I try to bring into my projects, I am wedded to the cast, shape, and blueprint that my first coach patterned me into," says Benny Kuriakose while reminiscing about the legendary 'low-cost hero' of architecture who died recently in Kerala. "The British-born architect, Baker, a boon to the architectural world, was a professional of high standards who chose to cling to the Indian soil after the words of Gandhiji struck a chord in him to work for the downtrodden and bring dignity to their lives,” recalls Benny Kuriakose.