Anil Laul, Indian Architect โ The Architectural Journey
Anil Laul was an Indian architect and author of Green is Red. He worked on systems designs, primarily in development of Appropriate Building materials and technologies facilitating usage of locally available materials and empowering local human resources.
He was a member of INTACH, and advisor to HUDCO and Delhi Urban Arts Commission. He also co-authored many housing policies of several states of India.
He received several awards for his projects listed as UNCHS Good Practices. He was listed as a well-known architect of India in John T. Langโs book A Concise History of Modern Architecture in India.
He wrote the book โGreen is Redโ and founded โAnangpur Building Centreโ (ABC) in Faridabad, India to work independently on cost effective sustainable building materials, technologies and earthquake engineering. He conducted hands on workshops and trained several enthusiasts.
Early life
Anil Laul was born on 6th August 1944 in Amritsar, India. He completed his architecture at the School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi in 1968. He has worked with Joseph Allen Stein & Mrs. Stein, Ram Sharma Kanvinde.
He was former visiting professor at SPA Delhi. He was also a former chairperson of Habitat Polytechnic. He was a passionate teacher with terror in class and friend outside the class.
Career
He is known for advocating green buildings, low cost sustainable housing based on local materials, pragmatic rehabilitation of slum dwellers, etc.
He won international acclaim for inventing cost-effective technologies for sustainable development, including the inter-locking blocks used at Nalanda International School in Vadodara.
Affiliations
- He was the prime member of the Art Advisory Committee, architecture advisory committee, projects Appraisal committee, building material advisory committee & governing council of building centre of HUDCO in the past.
- He was the member Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage.
- He was also a senior consultant to various bodies like the Development Authorities, Delhi Urban Art Commission, Unified Traffic & Transportation Infrastructure Planning & Engineering Centre, United Nation Environment Programme etc.
- He had been instrumental in programming in sustainable & cost effective technologies throughout India & abroad.
- He is also the co-author of several policies for housing.
Philosophy & Design
- He is known for his understated, pure, organic but geometrical forms.
- Clarity of designing & detailing was his design concept.
- His work incorporates traditional & contemporary style.
- He was involved in various teaching programmes.
- He always used the same technic for high income group housing & slum rehabilitation scheme.
- He built low cost, low energy, climatically suited & aesthetic houses with recycled waste.
- At the time of constructing his own house at Anangpur, he practiced the same concept he preached & popularized.
Some of his prominent works areโฆ
- Jaunapur slum resettlement, Delhi
- Deepalaya school
- Anangpur Building Centre & Residence
- Jhalawar Housing, Rajasthan
- Lucknow Housing, Uttar Pradesh
- Bhartiyam Gram, Delhi
- Bhoomiheen Camp, Delhi
- Escorts J.C.B Factory
- โDo or Dieโ of financial crisis
- Common manโs Water Filter
- Krishnan Residance, Gurgaon etc.
Death
He died in Delhi on 5 July 2016. He was cremated at Lodhi Cemetery with a memorial held at Arya Samaj Mandir on 8 July 2016. With the help of his family, the centre was run by his right-hand person architect Tanya Pahwa. Tanya Pahwa is also the co-author of the book โGreen is Redโ till March 2017.
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