T'PURAM: ‘‘Laurie Baker was a unique talent who single-handedly brought
a revolution in the field of architecture,’’ said Chief Minister V S
Achuthanandan. He was speaking at the Laurie Baker commemoration
organised by Costford on Wednesday.

Achuthanandan said that though Baker had made yeoman contributions to
Kerala’s architecture, the state had not completely acknowledged his
services. ‘‘He spent more than 40 years in our state building wonderful
homes for the ordinary people. But we have done little to develop and
take forward his legacy,’’ he said.

Education Minister M A Baby, Forest and Housing Minister Benoy Viswom, V
Sivankutty MLA, R V G Menon and CPM leaders Pirappankode Murali and E
Balanandan were also present at the commemoration function presided over
by Mayor C Jayan Babu.

Speaking on the occasion, Benoy Viswom said that Laurie Baker was an
architect who had his own interpretation about the relationship between
human beings and nature. ‘‘He was more of an activist than an
architect,’’ he said. He added that the housing department has
constituted an award in the name of Laurie Baker for organisations
working in low-cost housing sector. ‘‘We have also renamed the research
centre at Nirmithi Kendra as Laurie Baker Memorial Institute,’’ said
Benoy Viswom.

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