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Hospitality Prism January - February 2013, Volume 4

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Page 1: Hospitality Prism January - February 2013
Page 2: Hospitality Prism January - February 2013

Content…

TRAVELLER’S DIARY

Chandigarh – The City Beautiful

PRIDE OF INDIA

Howrah Bridge and Victoria Memorial

CURRENT AFFAIRS

India and Japan – Tourism cooperation Kerala second top tourism spot

UNWTO Factsheet

FINGER TIPS

Teeth Sensitivity & Care for Oily Skin

SNEAK PEEK

LOCAL FOCAL

Flavours of Dakshina Kannada

Food for Thought

Exploring Food Spots

GREEN CORNER Laurie Baker’s Philosophy of Architecture

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Page 3: Hospitality Prism January - February 2013

Editor’s Desk

Sub Editor Creative Designer

Mrs. Meenakshi Garg Mr. Raghavendra G

Student Editorial Board

Ms. Manasa Rao Ms. Retnika Devasher

Ms. Merlyn Eapan Ms. Sreya Taraknath

Ms. Sukshma Sharma

Mr. Arko Basu

The first edition of the ‘Hospitality Prism’ for the year 2013

carries a vivid description of the beautiful city Chandigarh. The

land mark of Kolkatta – Howrah Bridge and Victoria memorial

are brought in as pride of India. The finger tips deals with the

teeth sensitivity and care for oily skin. The dietetics students

visit to Hyderabad is covered under Sneek Peek. The

Mangalore-buns and Kundapura-Koli saru, the local cuisines of

Dakshina Kannada are included under local food. The legendary

Architect – Laurie Baker’s Phylosophy of Architecture is covered

in the Green Corner. I am sure all these information included in

this issue would radiate colorful rays from the Hospitality Prism.

- Prof. Y G Tharakan

Page 4: Hospitality Prism January - February 2013

Department of Allied Hospitality Studies

#January - February 2013 Vol. 4

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Chandigarh – The City Beautiful

Known world-wide as the most beautiful and the most well planned city in India, Chandigarh is an epitome

of great architecture, and a quality of life that is unparalleled. How often do you wonder, if serenity and a

city can go together? With 21 years of living in Chandigarh I can assure you that this concept does exist.

Chandigarh has acquired a unique distinction of being a capital to two states – Punjab and Haryana. The

face of modern India, Chandigarh, is the manifestation of a dream that Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru envisaged and

French architect Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, popular as Le Corbusier executed.

With the numerous trees and plants and the construction that is so well planned that you are awe-struck

by it, Chandigarh is right gotten its name ‘The City Beautiful’. Chandigarh is flanked by Mohali and

Panchkula which together are known as “Tricity”. To talk about the layout of the city, crisp roads cutting

squares are prominent across the sectors, every block having a sector number and this city does not have a

Sector 13, as the number was considered unlucky by the planner. Many newcomers here fall prey to the

“Meet me at sector 13 joke”. The open hand monument is a beautiful work of art adorning the Capitol

Complex – the location of the major administrative buildings of the states of Punjab and Haryana.

Apart from being an architectural wonder,

Chandigarh has a lot to offer. Starting from my

personal favourite the pristine Sukhna Lake where

one can take a boat ride and paddle along the ducks.

A 5-minute walk further down the road from Sukhna

Lake is Rock Garden: built from waste material from

scratch this place is a great example of how one could

protect their environment. Its world famous for its

statues and sculptures built for ceramic. The Rock

Garden was built by a government official called Nek

Chand who started working on it in his spare time. Art and culture can be felt everywhere in Chandigarh.

Museums like - The Evolution of Life Museum, the City Museum, International Dolls Museum are a must

visit while you are in the ‘city beautiful’. There are frequently held exhibitions and performances by

renowned singers, dancers and performance that you could have the pleasure to watch. Sector 17 parade

ground is well famous for hosting such events. You could take a walk on the clean promenades that are on

banks of all roads. But mind you, very rarely will you come across a person on foot because people seldom

walk here. You could even Dial-a-rickshaw here. It might baffle you to know that rickshaws are also

referred as ‘tuk-tuks’ here!

Chandigarh is also responsible for the birth of the word 'GERI' which basically means patrolling or moving

around in an area. Whenever the students get a time-out from their lecture and busy schedule, they along

Punjab University

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with their friends go around the various city colleges and Punjab University to check out the crowd and

flaunt their ride! My personal favourite “geri route” being sector 8-9-10-11-35

If you are looking to shop in Chandigarh, head straight to

Sector 17. Being the main shopping and commercial centre of

Chandigarh this has something for everyone. When it comes

to accommodation, various types of hotels are available in

Chandigarh depending upon your budget. Luxury 5 Star hotels

like JW Marriott, Taj, Park Plaza, Mount view (CITCO run

hotel) and budget hotels like Lemon Tree , Ashok , Bella Vista,

Homotel ,The Aroma are available. Authentic Punjabi food

like butter chicken, punjabi laccha parathas, chicken tikka and

lassi are served at its best in Chandigarh. Apart from this located in Sector 9, Backpacker’s Café is a good

place to have continental food. A few steps away, is the famous Nik Bakers – a place to have good desserts

and snacks. Sector 35 and 26 is flocked with a huge steam of eating joints which will surely leave you

astounded. Unlike the major metropolitans, where the life literally starts after 10 pm, Chandigarh goes off

to sleep early. The celebrations of most of the occasions generally do not extend beyond 10 pm.

Nonetheless, you can still find a decent amount of people partying in pubs and discs, which has been

increasing gradually.

People of Chandigarh have their main concentration on education. It boasts of many world renowned

educational colleges and schools and to talk about the residents of this city, people of Chandigarh

influenced by closeness of Punjab, are very friendly and warm especially the Chandigarh youth. Although

this city houses a lot of Senior Citizens and Retired army officers, but yet both the generations have a

capable understanding.

Chandigarh is indeed the best of the world because it is not just a local city, it is not just a city of India; it is

a “city of the whole world” I personally recommend all the readers to come and visit and experience the

variety of culture, food and people in the “CITY BEAUTIFUL”.

Retnika Devasher

Rock Garden

Page 6: Hospitality Prism January - February 2013

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Pride of India Howrah Bridge

Howrah Bridge is popularly known as Rabindra Setu. Howrah Bridge in Kolkata spans over river Hooghly

and is considered to be a marvelous engineering work by the British. The Howrah Bridge is enumerated

amongst the busiest cantilever bridge in the World.

Howrah Bridge of Kolkata carries traffic of around 60,000 vehicles and innumerable pedestrians daily. The

Howrah Bridge links the metropolitan city of Kolkata and Howrah. Thus the Howrah Bridge of Kolkata acts

as the lifeline of this metropolitan city. The Howrah Bridge in Kolkata is one of three bridges on the

Hooghly River. It is in fact the most sentimental landmark as well as a vital identity of the colonial city.

It took nearly about seven long years to construct the Howrah Bridge . The cantilever bridge of Howrah

was completed in 1943. The Howrah Bridge in Kolkata was opened to traffic and public in the same year.

The total expenditure of making the bridge was nearly £2,500,000. The Howrah Bridge of Kolkata was built

by riveting the whole structure without using nuts or bolts. Today, Howrah Bridge acts as the gateway to

Kolkata, connecting the city to the Howrah Station, the main railway stations of the city and the busiest

railway station of India.

The Howrah Bridge is 705 meters long and 97 feet wide. The structure of the Howrah Bridge was built

from 26,500 tons of high-tensile steel, supported by two piers. Each pier of the Howrah Bridge is about 90

meters above the road.

The bridge serves as the gateway to Kolkata, connecting it to the Howrah Station, which is one of the four

intercity train stations serving Howrah and Kolkata. As such, it carries the near entirety of the traffic to and

from the station, taking its average daily traffic close to nearly 1.5 million pedestrians and 1 million

vehicles. In 1946 a census was taken to take a count of the daily traffic, it amounted to 27,400 vehicles,

121,100 pedestrians and 2,997 cattle. The bulk of the vehicular traffic comes from buses and cars. Prior to

1993 the bridge used to carry trams also. Trams departed from the terminus at Howrah station towards

Rajabazar, Sealdah, High Court, Dalhousie Square, Park Circus and Shyambazar. From 1993 the tram

services on the bridge were discontinued due to increasing load on the bridge. However the bridge still

continues to carry much more than the expected load. A 2007 report revealed that nearly 90,000 vehicles

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were plying on the bridge daily (15,000 of which were goods-carrying), though its load-bearing capacity is

only 60,000. One of the main reasons of overloading was that although vehicles carrying up to 15 tonnes

are allowed on the structure, vehicles with 12-18 wheels and carrying load up to 25 tonnes often plied on

it. May 31, 2007 onwards, overload trucks were banned from plying on the bridge, and were redirected to

the Vidyasagar Setu instead. The road is flanked by footpaths of width 15 feet, and they swarm with

pedestrians.

The Howrah Bridge, is the most significant structure of Kolkata, it is well known and can be reached by

West Bengal State Road Transport Corporation Buses, minibuses, metred taxis, auto rickshaws, human-

powered carts, trams and ferries. The nearest Metro Station is Esplanade and the nearest Railway Station

is Howrah Station.

Victoria Memorial

he Victoria Memorial, officially the Victoria Memorial Hall, is a memorial building dedicated to

Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom, which is located in Kolkata, India – the capital of West

Bengal and a former capital of British India. It currently serves as a museum and a tourist attraction.

It is an autonomous organization within the Government of India's Ministry of Culture.

The memorial was designed by Sir William Emerson using Indo-Saracenic style, incorporating Mughal

elements in the structure. Lord Redesdale and Sir David Prain designed the gardens. The foundation stone

of the memorial was laid down in the year 1906. The monument was intended to serve as a tribute to the

success of the British Empire in India.

In the Royal Gallery, oil paintings depicting scenes of Queen Victoria receiving the sacrament at her

coronation in the Westminster Abbey in June 1838; her marriage with Prince Albert (1840) in the Chapel

Royal at St. James' Palace; the christening of the Prince of Wales in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle

(1842); marriage of the Prince of Wales (Edward VII) with Princess Alexandra (1863) ; Queen Victoria at the

first Jubilee service in Westminster Abbey in 1887 and the Second Jubilee service of Queen Victoria at St.

Paul's Cathedral, June 1897. These are the paintings of well-known artists in the collection of the British

royalty. The pianoforte on which Queen Victoria received tuition in her childhood and the writing desk and

chair constantly used by her for her daily correspondence at the Windsor Castle occupy the centre of the

room. King Edward VII presented these to the Victoria Memorial. On the south wall hangs of the Victoria

T

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Memorial, the Russian artist Verestchagin's masterpiece depicting in oils the state entry of King Edward

VII, then Prince of Wales, into Jaipur in 1876. Also, in this hall are portraits of Edward VII, as Prince of

Wales, painted in 1863 by Jansen and those of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert when both were young, by

Winterhalter.

The Memorial is the largest repository in India for a visual history of Calcutta. It also has a major collection

of paintings, sculptures and manuscripts from the British period.

The Victoria Memorial Garden of the memorial was exquisitely designed on a total area of 64 acres (0.26

km2) with the building covering an area of 338 by 228 sq ft (31.4 by 21.2 m2). On way to the north gate is a

bronze statue of Queen Victoria by Sir George Frampton, R.A. The Queen is seated on her throne, wearing

the robes of the Star of India. Approaching the building from the south, visitors pass the King Edward VII

memorial arch with a bronze equestrian statue of the King by Sir Bertram Mackennal surmounting it and a

marble statue of Lord Curzon by F.W. Pomeroy, R.A. There are also other statues of various dignitaries like

Lord Bentinck, Governor- General of India (1828–1835), Lord Ripon (Governor- General of India from 1880

to 1884; the statue of Sir Rajendranath Mookerjee, the pioneer industrialist of Bengal is on the eastern

side.

There are twenty one gardeners to maintain the garden and the morning walkers have four associations.

Most of the members of the morning walker associations are the rich and the famous of Calcutta. But the

authority of the memorial has no official link with these associations.

- Arko Basu

Page 9: Hospitality Prism January - February 2013

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Current Affairs India and Japan held talks to Strengthen Cooperation in Tourism Sector

India and Japan on 12 February 2013 decided to strengthen cooperation in tourism sector and explore the

new areas and opportunities in the sector by working together in different fields like the field of human

resource development, investment in the tourism sector, exchange of tour operators and exchange of

information related to tourism. The decision was made during a meet of the Japanese Senior Vice-Minister

of Tourism, Hiroshi Kajiyama with the Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi in India. The two also

discussed issues related to singing of an agreement.

India and Japan had been an important tourism market for each other in the recent past and Japan

accounts to be among the top ten inbound tourist generating market for India.

Japanese tourists in India in past few years:

Year 2008 2009 2010 2011

No. of tourists 145352 124756 168019 193525

Japanese Tourists in India are interested in visiting to places connected to Buddhism in India. Japan

International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had extended a loan of 7331 million Japanese Yen that is

equivalent to 299 crore rupees for development of the Ajanta Ellora Conservation and Development

Program – Phase II. The Ministry of Tourism held road shows in Tokya and Osaka on 18 February 2013 and

20 February 2013, respectively.

Kerala - second top tourism spot

Kerala is the second most popular place in India for Indian travellers, according to a recent survey

conducted by a travel planning website. The state comes second to Puri and is followed by Goa, Tarkarli,

Mahabaleswar, Andaman and Nicobar.

Puri being a holy destination and visited mostly by pilgrims, the survey results indicate that Kerala is the

most sought after tourist destination. The survey of 10 million people also found that Kerala is the top

destination for single travellers.

It is followed by Goa, Ooty, Andaman, Nicobar and Coorg. Another significant finding is that Kerala has the

highest diversity of travellers, with people visiting here from over 1,300 different cities.

The survey also found Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram is the second most visited place by kids this

winter. Bandipur National Park is first and Rajasthan, Ratnagiri and Murud too are popular.

Kerala may attract tourists from the rest of the country but Keraliites, the survey found, prefer not to

travel much themselves. Citizens of Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Delhi were more

adventurous.

- Sharath Kumar

Page 10: Hospitality Prism January - February 2013

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WTO Fact Sheets International tourism to

continue robust growth in 2013

UNWTO welcomes the world’s one-billionth tourist

International tourist arrivals grew

by 4% in 2012 to reach 1.035

billion, according to the latest

UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

With an additional 39 million

international tourists, up from 996

million in 2011, international

tourist arrivals surpassed 1 billion

(1.035 billion) for the first time in

history in 2012. Demand held well

throughout the year, with a

stronger than expected fourth

quarter.

Asia and the Pacific (+7%)

South-East Asia, North Africa (both

at +9%)

Central and Eastern Europe (+8%).

A British tourist visited Madrid,

Spain on 13 December has been

revealed as the symbolic face of the

one billion international tourists

travelled in 2012. The tourist was

welcomed by the Minister of

Industry, Energy and Tourism of

Spain, José Manuel Soria, UNWTO

Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and

the Mayor of Madrid, Ana Botella,

at an event in Madrid’s Museo del

Prado, held to celebrate a record

one billion international tourists in

2012. The event, part of the

UNWTO One Billion Tourists: One

Billion Opportunities campaign,

recalled how tourism can create

billions of opportunities for growth

and development around the world.

- Chirag Wagale

Page 11: Hospitality Prism January - February 2013

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Finger Tips Teeth Sensitivity

Care for Oily Skin:

Oily skin is a result of overactive oil producing glands in the

skin

This makes the skin thick and greasy

Symptoms to look for:

Blackheads

Whiteheads

Pimples

Skin spots

Natural home remedy using apple and honey:

De-seed and crush 1 apple

Add 4 tbsp honey

Mix well

Apply on the face

Wash it off after 10 min

Natural home remedy using ice and milk:

Dip 1 cube of ice in milk

Rub the ice on the face

Keep dipping the ice in the milk and rubbing on your face for

5-10 min

Teeth Sensitivity:

Teeth sensitivity occurs if the protective enamel around the teeth

gets eroded and nerve endings under the teeth get exposed

Symptoms to look for:

Sharp pain on eating, drinking something cold, hot, sweet or sour

Pain on contact with air, while breathing through the mouth

Causes:

Using hard-bristled toothbrush

Brushing aggressively

Plaque or bacteria in mouth

Teeth whitening products

Natural home remedy using mustard oil and rock salt:

Take 1 tbsp mustard oil

Add 1 tsp rock salt

Apply on teeth using your index finger

Massage gently

Leave it for 5 min

Rinse mouth with water

Natural home remedy using salt:

Take 1 glass lukewarm water

Add 2 tsp normal salt

Mix well

Rinse mouth with this solution once in the morning and once at

bedtime

Tips:

Brush gently

Hold brush like a pen, rather than a weapon

- Deepti Hiremath

Page 12: Hospitality Prism January - February 2013

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Sneak Peek The IDA Golden Jubilee Experience, Hyderabad

On the evening of 29th November, 22 excited M.Sc. DAN students left with their faculty for the Golden

Jubilee conference of the Indian Dietetics Association (IDA) held at Hyderabad. The theme for the

conference was Indian Diets and health: In Retrospect and Prospect. The Kachiguda express from

Bangalore reached them to Hyderabad. The first day of the conference started with registration followed

by inaugural session. Workshops on statistical methods, Entrepreneurship and Dietary survey methods

gave an insight into their practical applications. The prominent people in Nutrition industry added more

knowledge to the workshop. Guests speakers, who were researchers in the medical field gave an update

about the latest developments in Nutrition therapy. The major topics for discussions were Indian food and

diet in retrospect – Social, Cultural and Policy Perspectives, Indian Diets and Future Challenges, Diseases

and Diet, Changing Nutrition and Food Safety scenario in India, Promoting Nutrition and Public Health –

Role of Industry and Nuances in the practice of Dietetics.

NIN made all the arrangements for the pleasant stay of the participants. To sum up the dietary needs and

nutrition values the participants were all excited by the taste and flavor of famous Hyderbadi Biryani.

- S uk s hma Sha rma a nd Sre ya Ta ra k na th

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Local Focal LOCAL CUISINE

Kundapura Koli Saaru (Chicken curried with tomatoes and a spicy coconut paste)

Preparation time: 45mins

Ingredients:

Chopped onions -2nos

Water -1cup

Cumin seeds -1/2tsp

Curry leaves -10-15

Chopped tomatoes-4tbs

Chicken -3/4kg

Kundapura paste -6tbs

Coconut oil -4tbs

Salt -2tsp

Method: 1. Heat coconut oil in pan. Add cumin seeds,

curry leaves and chopped onions.

2. Saute the onions till they turn light brown.

3. Smear chicken pieces with Kundapura paste

and salt.

4. Transfer the pieces of Chicken and Chopped

tomatoes to the pan.

5. Cover the pan and cook for 15 mins.

6. Serve the hot Kundapura Koli Saru with

steamed rice.

Kundapura paste Ingredients: Cloves - 7nos

Pepper powder - 1 tsp

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Cinnamon sticks - 4/5 sticks

Coriander whole - 2 tsp

Red chillies - 4/5 red chillies

Grated coconut - ½

Water - 1cup

Method:

1) Add cloves, pepper corn, cumin seeds,

cinnamon, coriander whole, red chillies and

grated coconut to a pan and dry roast them.

2) Put aside to cool it.

3) Add water and grind together to form a smooth

paste.

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Mangalore Buns

Preparation time: 15-30mins

Ingredients:

Maida -1cup

Ripe banana -2nos

Curd -3tsp

Sugar -5tsp

Jeera seeds -1tsp

Baking powder - ½tsp

Salt -1 tsp

Oil -1litre

Method of preparation:

1. Take a bowl and mash the banana by using the fingers. Add the rest of the ingredients, except oil,

and make a smooth dough with curd as required.

2. Cover the dough and keep it aside for 4-5 hrs.

3. Heat oil in a frying pan on low-medium heat.

4. Make the small balls out of dough.

5. Press the dough in between the palms and make it in the shape of a poori.

6. Drop the round pooris in oil and deep fry on both sides until they turn brown.

7. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels.

8. Serve it hot with coconut chutney.

- Sh ine Mi cha e l

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Food Blog China Valley

The start of the new year , the year of the ‘snake’ led us

to dedicate the first edition of the year to Chinese food.

This cuisine has evolved drastically from its origin to now

with people accepting and appreciating the original

dishes. There are many variations of ‘Indian Chinese’

available in the market, but with increased knowledge on

the cuisine people are able to differentiate between

Chinese, Japanese and Korean mainly.

We all love Chinese, it’s our comfort food!! As students it

is an indulgence but an affordable one. So this brings us

to China Valley one of the most “promising Chinese

restaurants” as quoted by one of our friends from

college. So one Sunday evening we decided to try out

this much talked about restaurant located at the corner

of Mandavi Apartments. We reached around 9:00 P.M to

find the place packed to the brim. As we waited outside

for a table we did not waste any time and were asked to

place our orders so that it would be ready by the time

we were allotted a table. To our surprise as promised the

table was allotted in exact five minutes and even as we

waited for a table we were well taken care of.

As we entered the restaurant we were directed to the

floor above. It was a high ceiling restaurant that was

divided in two floors. The climb up the stairs were quiet

scary as the support handle was a little loose and the

stairs were extremely steep and as we climbed we had to

make sure we didn’t hurt our heads. We were allotted a

table in the middle of all the hustle n bustle. As I looked

around I asked the waiter as to what the maroon colour

drink was that everyone seemed to be having, he said it

was the cranberry ice tea and I immediately ordered five

of them for the table. On its arrival I took the first sip n it

felt like cold cough syrup, I did not enjoy it much and the

rest of the gang seem to agree with it, well it seems in

this case going with the crowd was not the right decision.

Soon arrived our hot soup bowls; we had ordered for

Chicken Manchow and Hot and sour chicken wanton

soup. Both the soups served the purpose of being hot

and spicy but the wantons in the soup were too thick to

digest. We then ordered the house specials which were

the Chicken Saiwoo and the Chicken hot pan, the Saiwoo

was a sweet and spicy chicken which could have been

better if it were crispier but none the less was a very

good dish. The Chicken hot pan was served on a sizzler

plate; it was shredded chicken that had been tossed with

onions, capsicum and garlic. Both the starters are a must

try. We then went on to order our mains which were

Chicken fried rice, Pad thai and Chicken peiking red

pepper noodles. The fried rice was average, nothing

overtly great, the noodles was different though mild

when you eat it but after a few seconds you realise the

spice hitting the back of your mouth. Keeping the worst

for the end the Pad Thai was an absolute disaster,

though it is highly recommended by the staff I would not

agree with that. The peanut sauce was overpowering any

other taste; it was like eating a spicy peanut butter

mixed with flat noodles, a big disappointment. Ending on

a sweet note on recommendation from the manager we

ordered for the Chocolate Volcano which was another let

down as it was a scoop of vanilla ice cream placed on top

of a Choco – pie which is sold loosely outside as well

drizzled with chocolate sauce.

Overall it was a good experience with good food, good

ambience and a little disappointment.

RATINGS

Taste – 7/10 Ambience – 7/10 Value for money – 8/10

- Ma na s a Ra o & Mer l yn Ea p a n

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Green Corner Laurie Baker’s Philosophy of Architecture

Laurie Baker represented a unique tradition of architecture that

blended man and nature. He emphasised local materials and

traditional concepts in constructing dwellings, demonstrating a

strong commitment to mass, affordable housing. Now a Centre

started in his name in Thiruvananthapuram wants to take his work

forward.

There are not many architects who have created an idiom of their

own or left behind a unique architectural legacy that has had a

deep impact on the way people conceive homes and public

buildings. Standing tall among the select few is Laurie Baker, who

was born and trained in architecture in England, but made India,

more specifically Kerala, his home, leaving a deep imprint in the annals of Kerala’s architectural history.

Baker’s body of work is significant both in terms of its volume and sheer diversity and the innovative and practical

concepts he introduced. He designed and built fishermen’s huts, hamlets for forest tribes, chapels and churches,

factories, schools, film studios, orphanages, residences, technical institutes, leprosy homes, a literacy village, hostels,

slum rehabilitation projects, an ornithology centre, government buildings and a museum. He also did pioneering

work in earthquake and tsunami-resistant housing. Kerala alone has over 2,000 Baker-designed projects.

Everything about Laurence Wilfred Baker (1917-2007) was rooted

in the idea of co-existence and love towards all —both animate

and inanimate. Simplicity and truthfulness were the hallmarks of

his life and work. By living out these values, he evolved an

unparalleled approach in the practice of architecture and

redefined the profession. Baker’s philosophy and methodology

have resulted in delightfully built environments, which are

responsive to local climate, use energy-efficient materials,

methods of construction and operation, remain truthful to the

materials and methods used and demonstrate low environmental

impact and admirable cost effectiveness.

Baker preferred locally available and renewable materials and enhanced the efficiency of materials used through

skill-oriented innovations and quality assurance. He always emphasised conservation and management of

vegetation, soil and water. The modest system of functioning that he insisted upon resulted in very low overhead

expenses, which made his services more accessible to the poor and he declared his allegiance to the marginalised

directly through constant interactions, writings and cartoons and indirectly through a sensitive practice of

architecture.

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Baker’s is a mission that calls for perpetuation. One major step in that direction is being taken with the formal

inauguration of the Laurie Baker Centre (LBC) for Habitat Studies at Vilappilsala on the outskirts of the capital city.

To be managed by a governing council chaired by Baker’s wife,

Elizabeth Baker, the not-for-profit centre is being set up at

‘Navayatra,’ the last project that Baker had personally overseen

on a 3.42-acre undulating plot with several Baker-built buildings

and extensive green cover. Originally set up as a learning centre

for children by Baker’s friend and follower Keith Saldanah,

‘Navayatra’ in its new avatar would house the LBC training-cum-

resource centre, a Baker archive and act as the nodal point for

dissemination of the Baker philosophy of architecture. The Laurie

Baker Centre has bought ‘Navayatra’ with financial assistance of

Rs.80 lakh provided by the State government.

The centre conducts regular programme on architectural design and aesthetics with special focus on planning,

design and construction of human settlements for socially and economically disadvantaged groups.

The Centre also promote appropriate technology, especially in construction and public works, including

development of building materials and technology relevant to green architecture, and special programmes on urban

and spatial planning, natural resource management, eco restoration, environmental engineering and management

and alternative sources of energy.

- A N Mo na p p a

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Department of Allied Hospitality Studies

Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration

Manipal University, Manipal – 576 104

website: www.manipal.edu

email: [email protected]