Laurie Baker Trophy 2018–19: Designing for Resilience

The Laurie Baker Trophy 2018–19, organized under the aegis of the National Association of Students of Architecture (NASA India), called upon students to reimagine architecture as a tool for resilience. The theme for the year, “Untraversed – Multi-use Permanent Disaster Relief Shelter”, challenged participants to design spaces that not only serve as emergency shelters but also integrate meaningfully into the daily lives of communities.

The Context: Disasters as Great Levellers

India, with its diverse geography, is highly vulnerable to natural calamities such as floods, earthquakes, cyclones, and droughts. These events transcend social and economic divides, threatening survival and exposing the inadequacy of existing infrastructure. Relief shelters often become temporary solutions, frequently underutilized outside of emergencies. The brief stressed the need for well-designed, multifunctional shelters that embody resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability.

Objectives of the Brief

Participants were tasked with designing a permanent disaster relief shelter in a rural context. The competition required them to:

1. Understand the village context – document demographic, socio-economic, cultural, environmental, and governance details of a chosen Gram Panchayat (population 10,000–20,000).

2. Identify and analyze a site – in collaboration with local governance, considering vulnerability, evacuation routes, catchment area, and potential multiple uses.

3. Develop a detailed programme – including shelter capacity, duration of use, accessibility, provision for livestock, sanitation, and international standards.

4. Create a design and construction scheme – rooted in Laurie Baker’s principles of cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and human-centric architecture.

5. Conduct impact analysis – assessing socio-economic, cultural, and environmental outcomes.

The Multi-use Approach

A core requirement of the brief was to envision shelters as multi-functional community spaces. Outside disaster periods, these facilities were expected to serve the panchayat in ways such as educational centers, community halls, or vocational training hubs. This approach ensures regular use, fosters community ownership, and prevents wasteful infrastructure.

Laurie Baker’s Legacy in the Brief

Known as the “Gandhi of Architecture,” Laurie Baker championed low-cost, context-sensitive, and sustainable building practices. The competition reflected his philosophy by emphasizing:

• Use of local materials and techniques.

• Egalitarian, inclusive spaces that promote healing and unity.

• Ecological responsibility in water, waste, and energy management.

• Human-scale, participatory design rooted in local context.

Evaluation and Submissions

Entries were to be submitted as a set of eight A2 sheets, covering studies, analysis, programme, design, and impact. Hand-drafted sketches on recycled paper were encouraged. Evaluation focused on contextual understanding, design responsiveness, sustainability, and adherence to Laurie Baker’s ethos.

Beyond the Competition

The Laurie Baker Trophy 2018–19 extended far beyond design—it urged architecture students to engage with communities, governance systems, and disaster management authorities, making the design process participatory and real. By merging practicality with imagination, the competition aimed to produce architectural solutions that could truly impact lives.

In essence, the trophy redefined shelters not as static, emergency-only structures, but as dynamic community assets—ever ready for crises, yet deeply woven into everyday rural life.