World-renowned as the Gandhi of Architecture, Laurie Baker’s–a British-born, indigenously Indian architect–architectural philosophy was naturally, organically, and simply profound: “Cost-effective houses are not just for the poor, they are for everyone. The equation that a cost-effective house is a house for the poor, implying a bad-looking house, can definitely be proved wrong.” And thus, Mr Baker built monument after monument dedicated to the living memory of simply living people, becoming the people’s architect.
The firm, R K Remesh Architects, was born of the same philosophy of natural, organic, and sustainable architectonics offered to those born with the ancient Indian wisdom of sustainable, eco-integrated living. The firm’s Founder, Principal Architect, and Proprietor, R K Remesh, had a fascination for doing design from his school days.
And one day, his ideal, his inspiration Laurie Baker visited his school in Trivandrum, and the flame of fascination became the glowing fire of passion. The inspired child, Mr Remesh, absorbed his idol Laurie Baker’s philosophy into his own heart and pledged to follow in Mr Baker’s footsteps.
Living a Childhood Dream
“I joined for Bachelor of Architecture in Trivandrum Engineering College to fulfil my childhood dream to become a designer and to develop economical and cheaper cost-effective methods of construction which are livable, lovable and affordable,” reminisces Mr Remesh.
However, after completing his Bachelor of Architecture in 1969 from Trivandrum Engineering College, Kerala University, Mr Ramesh, along with his two architect friends –Ar. Babu Mathew and Ar. Jose Philip–came to know that there were no practising qualified architects in northern Kerala from Cochin to Kasargod and decided to start a new qualified architectural firm in Calicut.
Mr Remesh remembers, “People of Malabar region were relying on the services of Civil Engineers, and we have to educate people on the difference between an Architect and a Civil Engineer. Malabar people were convinced by the quality of our work as architects, and we started our firm ‘Jose Remesh Babu Architects.”
The firm was inaugurated on 1st April 1969 by the then Local Administration Minister of Muslim League Sri. Avukader Kutty Naha, presided over by Congress Mayor of Calicut Corporation Sri. Madhusoodhana Kurup, at Town Hall, Calicut.
An exhibition of various Architectural Monuments was conducted at Town Hall in association with the inauguration of the firm, and there was a good response from the public. “We took up the work of the Press Club in Calicut, and the news media gave a good coverage of the inauguration,” shares Mr Remesh.
Later Ar. Babu Mathew left the firm in 1970 to join government service, and in 1996 Ar. Jose Philip and Mr Remesh decided to continue practising as separate architectural firms, and Mr Remesh started a new individual proprietorship firm ‘R.K. Remesh Architects’ in 1998.
Constructing Energy Efficient Environments
In his 53 years of conducive journey, Mr Remesh has handled several major projects in government, semi-government, and private sector, including offices, convention centres, auditoriums, theatres, hospitals, stadium complexes, major tourism projects for Kerala Tourism Department etc.
An eminent architect renowned for his innovative designs, Mr Remesh, has numerous eco-friendly homes, museums, parks and so on to his credit.
The important part of the work is the research and development of several new cost-effective construction systems used throughout the country for ‘Cost-Effective Housing. Research and development works were carried out free of charge for cost-effective construction, and livable, lovable, and affordable houses were built using this technology.
Residence for former Prime Minister Chandrasekhar in Delhi had also been constructed using this same livable, lovable, affordable, cost-effective technology using hollow clay blocks. The Ministry of Environment, in association with UNDP, produced a film on ‘Energy Efficient Construction of Cost-Effective Systems of Construction’ based on the quality of construction development.
As per Mr Remesh, their experience, dedication to work, economical design, and timely delivery of various services and guidance on the implementation of projects marks them as a leading architectural firm. Further revealing the immersive benefits the firm offers, Mr Remesh reiterates that they provide the most economical design by incorporating the best available cost-effective construction systems that are pleasant, endearing, and reasonable.
Usage of natural resources like solar power, wind power etc., reduces the expenses and returns income in future. To reduce the cost of construction, available best services of structural consultants, plumbing consultants, air-conditioning consultants etc., are also offered by the firm. Moreover, timely delivery of the required designs limits construction costs to a minimum.
Innovative Systems for People’s Housing
Mr Remesh informs, “Now I am offering three innovative systems for housing for the poor people which I have developed.
*House of Tomorrow: The first one is a ‘Shell House’, which was awarded the First National Award for “Excellence in Architects” in 1989 by The Indian Institute of Architects for the residence. This system does not require any reinforcement, and a foundation is not required since the hollow blocks reduce the structure’s weight. Theoretically speaking, this system doesn’t require any foundation except nominal seating. Only a minimum foundation for the central structures is necessary because of the weight.
Advantages –
- Reduction of labour.
- Eliminating shuttering/formwork
- No steel required
- Thermal comfort inside reduces heat in hot climates, which will be 4o C less than the outside temperature, and inside will be warmer during cold climates by more than 4o C than the outside temperature.
- Minimum maintenance by avoiding plastering and mortar works.
- Four masons with two helpers can build a 20 ft room in one day.
House built in Afro-Asian Housing competition held at New Delhi early 1970’s won the award for ‘House of Tomorrow’ for the triple shelled structure.
*Self-Constructed Bhavanam:
Partially Prefab structures. This system uses either compressed earth blocks or hollow blocks with a prefab system. The photograph shows the model we built in Calicut using unburned earth blocks for walls and prefab roofing. Only one week of training was given to the artisans (helpers) who built it.
This system is a ‘Self Help and Mutual Helping System’ of construction in which one can build their own house. Several people adopted this system and built their homes by themselves.
The second photograph enclosed shows the office of ‘Bhavanam’ in Calicut. In this voluntary organization, I am the Executive Director giving free advice on the ‘Self Help And Mutual Helping System’ of construction.
And later, more than 25 Village Offices were built in Calicut by Nirmithi Kendra using the same technology in the early years of the 1970s, and all of them are intact even today. Only the inside of the buildings is painted. Today’s services are for training helpers for construction using this system.
*Holistically Sustainable Homely Living:
The photograph shows the aerial view of the structure built in Calicut using extruded hollow earth blocks for the Housing Board, Kerala.
The structures of these types of buildings are designed and built by the beneficiaries using extruded hollow clay blocks for walls and pillars, and roof slabs are built using prefab beams and hollow clay blocks. Roof tiles are used for sunshades.
The total construction cost is reduced by using hollow clay blocks, and roof slabs do not require any form of work. This system not only reduces the cost of construction but also gives thermal comfort in any climate, hot or cold. The Interior will be cold in a hot climate and warm in a cold climate.
This system also can be modified to the ‘Self Help and Mutual Help’ system of construction by using compressed earth blocks for which the design is to be modified.
Several variations in these three systems can be added or modified according to the need and availability of raw materials. By studying the soil conditions all over India, all these systems are suitable for any state in India.”
Flattening Adversities
Though, according to Mr Remesh, everything is not always smooth. There were and are challenges that keep cropping up, which the firm has to encounter. Mr Remesh states, “While we started our firm in 1969, the people of the Malabar region were unaware of what an Architect was and relied on the services of Civil Engineers. We had to educate people on the difference between an Architect and a Civil Engineer. Malabar people were later convinced by the quality of our work as architects, and we started our firm with me concentrating on the development of cost-effective systems of construction which are convenient, adorable and within people’s means.”
Delay in payments is causing a major issue in this field. Even if major services are provided, payments are not released accordingly. Government projects are also facing the same issue. “In records, we are eligible for payments which are not released and still due. We can’t run a firm without money,” mentions Mr Remesh.
Wisdom Building
Mr Remesh also believes that the usage of natural sources like solar energy, wind energy etc., makes their projects self-reliable and definitely returns income for the project in future by selling out excess energy after usage. Implementation of new centralized units for air-conditioning and effective waste disposal systems makes the projects more environmentally friendly, and new technologies are developed for easy implementation and to withstand natural calamities.
His advice to aspirants willing to venture into the field of Architectural Designing is compassionate and full of natural wisdom. He says that more and more opportunities will be available for private firms. More work will be available for technically advanced firms using natural resources and cost-effective methods of construction which are inhabitable, amiable, and reasonably priced. “You must be updated with the latest technologies and design,” he suggests. Make effective planning to reduce the cost and time for construction and use of new systems suitable for the environment, implementation of solar power systems, effective waste disposal systems and designs that limit the usage of natural materials and withstand natural calamities.
The Sustainable Future’s Architects
Sharing their future plans, Mr Remesh says that the last two-and-a-half years, which the industry faced, were a setback. Now the industry is recovering fast. Change of clauses in agreements with stricter clauses of timely release of payments will increase the potentiality of firms in future. Moreover, they will be concentrating further on the development of cost-effective systems of construction which are functional, attractive, and economical.
“In 2023, the future is excellent for our firm as we follow the Council of Architects norms. Our advanced systems, solutions and quality services will definitely put us ahead,” concludes Mr Remesh.
