CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (KERALA)

- LAURIE BAKER

HARDIK VEPARI – 112

ADITI VERMA – 113
ASHISH VISHWAKARMA – 114
CONTEXT

NAME – CENTRE FOR

DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (CDS)
LOCATION – CENTRE FOR
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES LOCATED
IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA IN THE
NORTHWEST PART OF
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 2KMS
FROM ULLOOR, KERALA.
ARCHITECT – LAURIE BAKER
TYPE – INSTITUTIONAL
DATE – 1970

CDS ENTRANCE
LOCATION

CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES located in a residential area in the

northwest part of thiruvananthapuram, 2kms from ulloor, Kerala.
CONCEPT
The Center for Development Studies is a
structure that flows through its
surroundings. The structure mainly made out
of bricks was built on a rugged sloping
terrain on the outskirts of the city. The
structure is built such that it not only leaves
the natural surroundings as it is but creates a
poetic fixture within the surrounding itself.
The walls curve and meander around the
trees without disturbing them, infact
including them within the design. the
concept of the structure is typical of Laurie
Bakers style, which utilizes materials from
within the surroundings and also creates
sustainable and environmentally conscious
structures. This not only helps maintain the
natural ecological balance, but also gives the
structure a number of benefits viz. shade
cooling, etc.
CDS COURTYARD
BUILDING USE
The building has been developed and created to provide
multiple utilities a Library, Computer center, Auditorium,
hostels, guesthouses and residential units for the staff.

CDS ENTRANCE FULL VIEW

FORM AND MASS
EXTERIOR –The entire structure is made of
bricks and other locally available natural
materials. The façade of the structure is as it is,
and does not conceal the brick constructions.
Furthermore, to add on to the informality and
simplicity of the structure, it lacks a front door,
making it a more welcoming space.
INTERIOR – To keep the interiors of the
computer building cool, Baker has devised the
imaginative use of a false external jaali screen
wall which acts as a skin. The air trapped in
between acts as insulation and keeps the interiors
cool. All the buildings in the campus are
climatically so efficient that even fans are not
required. The interiors are cool and comfortable.

The meanders of the walls to maintain the

delicateness of the surroundings diffuses the
demarcation between the "external" and "internal"
and creates a environment of open learning and
education.
CDS ENTRANCE
SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
Sustainable architecture is the type of architecture which
aims to create structures which are environment friendly
by utilizing materials which are recyclable, renewable and
most importantly locally available. Laurie Baker's work
involves using locally available materials, creating designs
with ample of air and light circulation and utilizing the
contours and landscape of the site without disturbing
them. These materials suit the hot, wet and humid climate
of Kerala and also encourage minimal use of non-
renewable resources.

The structure has been built so delicately that the

landscape/contours are not tampered with. The design
responds to the surroundings by changing as per the
contours and responding to the landscape requirements.
Organically flowing walls and curved roofs have been used
USE OF BRICK WORK & JAALIS IN FACADE
to blend and seamlessly integrate the building in the
surroundings.
LIGHT AND SHADES
Jaalis in the brick walls of numerous designs creating
amazing patterns of light and shade inside the buildings
while at the same time letting in wind and light.
Laurie Baker believed that windows were costly and
found jaalis to be a more efficient and smart choice in
his designs. The jaalis not only provided for enough
circulation of air and light throughout the structure but
also created a diffused pattern of light and shadows on
the surrounding walls.
Jaalis are used in the design such, that they serve
exactly the same purpose of a window and yet prove to
be less costlier than an actual window.
Jaalis allow the light such, that the diffused light not
only creates an interplay of positive and negative space
but also nourishes the structure with ample of natural
USE OF JAALIS IN THE STRUCTURE light.
USAGE OF EXPOSE BRICK & FILLER SLAB
EXPOSED BRICK: The usage of exposed bricks is done to avoid
extravagance and add a touch of humility in the design, a trademark of
Laurie Baker's works. There isn't any attempt to conceal the brick work
but infact used such that it adds on to the beauty of the structure. The
bricks have been used such that they create patterns and shadows in
the structure, and on the façade. This is in coherence with his principles
of creating interest via simplicity.
FILLER SLAB: In an RCC slab, concrete is required in its top half (which is
in compression). However, it is structurally not required in the bottom
portion (which is in tension). So the concrete in this portion (bottom) of
the slab can be replaced by low cost, lightweight filler material like
Mangalore tiles or clay, etc. Filler slabs are employed by replacing this
purposeless concrete by a filler material thus reducing the weight of the
slab and hence the cost of construction. Since the weight of the slab is
decreased, the requirement of reinforcement steel is also decreased,
further diminishing the expenses in construction.
Filler slabs are one such cost-effective roofing system which is based on
the concrete portions and instead placing filler material there. The
material used as a replacement includes bricks, tiles, cellular concrete
blocks. This technique of cost effectiveness is used at each storey of
Library tower.
CIRCULATION

STACK EFFECT

The structure and the design utilize the

stack effect by creating forced ventilations
through a circular shaft which runs from the
bottom level all the way till the top. the
shaft is open from above and the forced
punctures throughout the shaft allow the hot
COLD AIR air to escape through the top and cool the
HOT AIR internal space naturally
LIGHT FLOW & AIR FLOW
DRAWING

PLAN

SECTION
THANK YOU