We started off the day learning about influences on architecture from client, function, and physical environment to approaches to design. It seems everything should help to determine what type of building is placed on a plot of land: the site, the access, setbacks, and cluster planning. We also learned about the traditional responses to climate: verandahs, roof form and material, and the use of gables.
Later we got to see how well Sajan and Shailaja incorporated Laurie Baker’s philosophy into their home. Their home is on the top of a hill, is built on an open floor design, is built of wood, bamboo, and mud…with reclaimed wood. How the mud stays in place makes no sense to me, since I'm told there is little to no clay--it's just dirt. The windows follow the lattice work of the Padmanabhapuram palace which slant outwards and contain no glass. Amazing how pleasant such an open house can feel. I sat in the top room and wished I could stay a while. We had coconut milk from the husk, then shared some of the meat. Shailaja’s mother cut up the coconuts to reveal the meat….different texture than I’ve ever had before.
As we were leaving I was last to head down the hill with Indu and Sajan. I turned to say something and managed to trip over my own two feet. In my defense it was a rocky road and steep hill. The irony of it was that I’d just been speaking with Sajan about medical care in India and how I hoped none of us would need to find out! I was laughing so hard at myself that if I’d truly been hurt, I wouldn’t have felt it. A nice big colorful bruise is all that remains—that and a good story!
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