Another busy day, another long blog. The agenda consisted of visiting the Laurie Baker Center, a paper making place, and IISE which stands for the International Institue for Social Entrepreneurs and is aschool for the blind. I had no idea we would also be experiencing a three course traditional Keralan meal; I didn't take enough pictures because my hands became messy but my descriptives will serve justice.
The road leading to the LBC and the first building we approached. Also a picture that sums up the dymanics of our group.
Note the recycled bottles used to create shapes in the wall, along with cement.Lecture was presented by Padmakumar, informing us of the technology and various techniques used to construct these structures. He described how the process included more than architecture, but making the right choices based on need, while incorporating environmental and social costs. The construction process begins with excavation, and is preceeded by foundation, structure, finishes (wall, roofs, flooring), electrification, plumbing, sanitaiton and external touches (boundary and landscaping). He also described the usefulness of bamboo, which is used to replace some properties of steel, and to also provide a foundation. Below soil level, bamboo will remain intact, but can only be used in water log or clay conditions.
After lecture, and learning about ways to manipulate stone, shifting soils, damp roofing, mud walls and flooring, we were able to tour the entire Laurie Baker Center. I observed the same circular patterns, providing many 3 dimensional shapes. Laurie Bakers philosohies aslo transpired into his designs, as you can see with the mago but also below in this symbol made from stone.
The bathroom inside the dormitory.
Padmakumar shown from the outside looking up.....
And the view from the top, looking out and down.The tour was concluded with a brief narrative from Keith Saldanha, who had the pleasure of befriending Laurie Baker, and now lives at the Center. He describe Laurie as an architect who designed by nothing that could be gained from textbooks, but with pure creativity and thought. He took an interest in his clients with a sense of wonder, and never compromised his values. I appreciated his use of local resources, and also his way of incorporating the clients personality into the structure built.
Keith was wonderful enough to join us for lunch and we were all so gracious.
He taught us the proper etiquette when eating a traditional Keralan meal. I will begin by saying the chefs at LBC began prepearing this meal in the morning, to ensure spices and currys were well made; a lot of effort was put into this meal. We were served rice and curry, as you can see below, and began eating. It was delicious, and my best meal in India. I particularly enjoyed eating with my hands and the banana leaf was quite efficient. We also learned from Keith at the end of the meal, after folding it upwards, it would be given to the cows. I had eaten all of my food, plus a friends picklem minus the yogurt when more rice came. I was almost full but considering the effortss of the meal and this was a Kerala tradition for only special occasions, I acepted the rice, followed by more curry. Words can't describe all the flavors, from coconut to spice, to tangy. To our surprise, out came a desert dish which Keith instructed us not to eat until finishing both curry dishes, and only after peeling and mashing the banana and pouring it on top. Deserts I have found to be too sweet, but the banana made it wonderful. I thought, finished, that was great! But no. Out came more rice! Keith informed us of the third course that would soon be coming, but before that, we were served 2 soups which we slurpped from our hands. The third rice was preceeded by one last curry, and we did our best to eat it all. After eating as much as possible, I folded my banana leaf forward and had multiple conversations before preparing to witness paper being made by hand.We walked down the road, to meet several women working with SEWA (Self Employed Womens Association). These women advocate for the employment of women as it is important they work. As told by Sajan, and even described in Joys of Motherhood as a trend in Lagos, many times the money earned by men used for the needs of the family but to other things such as alcohol. Many of us were impressed with their work ranging from hand made pens, to cards, to staionary and bought many of their products.
The products used to make the paper.Our last destination today was IISE, which as stated was a school designed for the blind, by COSTFORD. The school illustrates every aspect of sustainability from the solar water heater to their reuse of human waste for biogas to the water channels around the dormitorys to prevent bus from getting inside. The school is for blind students from all over the world, and during the last semester, 22 countries were represented. It was at IISE that I heard the most inspiring and motivating words from the minds of the creaters of IISE and Blind without Borders. Here my words cannot truly potray his, and therefore I recorded them. His words were very enriching, so if you have the time, please listen.
The logo for Blind Without Borders, placed in their auditorim stage in stone, similiar to the mango work.
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