THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Revenue officials have handed over 6.95 acres of land at Vazhamuttom, Thiruvallom, for establishing the Laurie Baker Institute of Habitat Studies (LABISHAS). LABISHAS memorialises world-renowned Birmingham-born master Indian architect Laurie Baker who dedicated his life to the promotion of cost-effective architecture. Work on the project will start soon, Finance Minister K M Mani said. LABISHAS aims at propagating the philosophy of Baker, who dreamed of a home for everyone. At present, LABISHAS functions out of a temporary campus at the Kerala State Nirmithi Kendra at PTP Nagar. LABISHAS will conduct courses on energy-efficient and cost-effective architecture and will act as an international research centre on the subject. People from neighbouring states engaged in their respective housing sectors will be trained at LABISHAS. ‘’It will act as a hub for coordinating the activities of agencies engaged in low-cost housing nationwide and work towards making constructive contributions in this area at the global level,’’ Mani said. LABISHAS itself will be constructed based on techniques practised and preached by Baker. Baker (March 2, 1917-April 1, 2007) came to India in 1945 and became an Indian citizen in 1989. He lived in Thiruvananthapuram since 1970. He was awarded the Padma Shree in 1990 for his contributions in the field of architecture.
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