Question

The Indian Coffee House, Thiruvananthapuram was designed by

• A. Charles Correa
• B. Laurie Baker
• C. Raj Rewal
• D. B.V. Doshi

Hint:

When studying architecture, focus on the distinct styles of each architect, as this will help you identify their works. Laurie Baker's designs are characterized by the use of local materials and sustainable methods.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the question.
The Indian Coffee House in Thiruvananthapuram is a well-known architectural project, designed by the renowned architect Laurie Baker. Laurie Baker was famous for his innovative and cost-effective building designs that blended traditional Indian methods with modern architecture.

Step 2: Analyzing the options.
(A) Charles Correa: While Charles Correa was a prominent architect, he did not design this particular building.
(B) Laurie Baker: Correct — Laurie Baker was the architect behind the design of the Indian Coffee House, Thiruvananthapuram.
(C) Raj Rewal: Raj Rewal is a famous architect, but he was not involved in the design of this coffee house.
(D) B.V. Doshi: B.V. Doshi is another prominent architect, but he was not responsible for designing this building.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (B) Laurie Baker, as he was the architect behind the Indian Coffee House, Thiruvananthapuram.

Answer 2

Rather than recalling the fact directly, we can identify the architect from the building's distinctive style. The Indian Coffee House in Thiruvananthapuram is famous for its spiral brick structure, designed to maximize circulation efficiency with minimal material — a hallmark of cost-effective, locally-sourced brick construction. Let's check each option's known architectural style against this building.

1. Charles Correa: Correa is known for large-scale modernist works using concrete and open low-rise housing layouts (like Kanchanjunga Apartments), not the exposed-brick, filigree-jali cost-effective style seen here.
2. Laurie Baker: Baker's signature style is exactly this — cost-effective architecture using exposed brick, perforated jali walls for ventilation, and unconventional geometric forms like this spiral coffee house, built to save on materials and cost.
3. Raj Rewal: Rewal is known for large institutional and housing complexes in a more formal, geometric modernist idiom, not this brick vernacular approach.
4. B.V. Doshi: Doshi is known for works like Sangath and CEPT, in a modernist style influenced by Le Corbusier, distinct from Baker's low-cost, brick-based vernacular approach.

The building's exposed-brick, materials-efficient design style matches Laurie Baker's well-known architectural signature.

Therefore, the correct answer is Laurie Baker.