Laurie Baker was born in 1917 in Britain and resident in India from 1945.
Dr. Baker was known for his work with low-cost, high-quality housing, making innovative use of vernacular building practices. In his improvisational architectural style, drawings served only as a starting point, and most design decisions were made on-site. Sensitive to the vagaries of each unique site, Baker's works integrated cultural preferences with "low-tech" responses to site conditions.
Laurie Baker received the Padma Shri award from the Indian government in 1990. His NGO, the Center of Science and Technology for Rural Development (COSTFORD), continues to supervise his building projects.