Signature Baker arches, exposed brick walls, and lush greenery of plumeria and bamboo varieties—Baker's Arch Cafe in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, initially appears like a Laurie Baker design placed in Bali's tropical landscape. Step into the backyard, however, and the ambience transforms from a brick-clad design into a whimsical open garden cafe. This transformation is orchestrated by Kochi-based Kriya, led by architect Vinod Mathews, for whom the project was more than just a professional venture. Having served as his studio for 12 years, Vinod envisioned Baker's Arch evolving to blend Baker's architectural ethos with a modern, garden-like atmosphere.
Storied Past
Before its transformation into the city's new garden cafe, Baker's Arch had a storied past, having housed various owners. Originally built by Laurie Baker in the early '80s as a private residence, the building was purchased by Malayalam actor Captain Raju in 1992, followed by its acquisition by the Muthoot Pappachan Group in 2003, from whom Vinod rented it for his office until he moved out. When the decision was made to convert it into a cafe, Preethi John Muthoot and Thomas John Muthoot, knowing Vinod's familiarity with the building and previous design successes for the MPG's ventures, granted him complete creative freedom. Contrary to most Baker buildings that turned into ruins, Vinod revitalized the structure, preserving its architectural legacy while creating a venue that merges past and present in a contemporary-style garden cafe.
Home to Cafe
Baker's Arch, which sits on three levels, embodies Laurie Baker's philosophy of working with, rather than against, the land. The dramatic entrance on the highest level guides you along a cobblestone pathway to an exposed feature wall and an arch, leading down to the second level. Here, the cafe building begins around a gracefully ageing fountain. “The arch, feature wall, and fountain are my additions to the original structure when it was my office,” Vinod shares. The backyard is now a garden cafe and coffee bar for those seeking to enjoy the outdoors. Inside, the rooms are thoughtfully repurposed into a co-working space, lounge, and common and private dining areas, catering to the varied needs of different guests. The basement is converted into the main kitchen.
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As Vinod recounts, “We have made only minimal interventions to the main building, removing some walls to accommodate washrooms and extending the kitchen in the basement, which is essential for the café.” This sensitivity is apparent in the Lotus Hall, which retains its original design, featuring a distinctive lotus-like frame of three of Baker's grand brick arches, now serving as the primary dining area. Beyond fixing leaks and other minor issues, the roof, floor, and windows are conserved in their original form.
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Designing New
The highlight of Baker's Arch lies in its outdoors—an airy, tropical, and inviting space. Vinod's primary design effort lay not indoors but seeing a possibility in its backyard to turn it into an outdoor garden cafe. "This space is more about the outside than the inside, so that is where I was going with my design while trying not to take away its original architectural essence," the architect continues. "For example, the brass plates at the coffee bar counters feature cutout patterns mimicking Laurie Baker’s signature brickwork." To maintain continuity, the statement brick walls are strategically placed outdoors at the wash area, behind the waterbody, and at the entrance.
The colour palette is elegantly composed of black, grey, and brick red. Indoors, the vibrancy of the brick walls is softened with grey tones to strike a balance. Outdoors, grey limestone flooring complements the statement walls, which maintain continuity with their brick red colour. Lush greenery adds a tropical flair to the space. However, a significant challenge for Vinod involved repurposing furniture from previous MPG hospitality projects, which varied in colour. By painting them black, the pieces were integrated into the overall design. Accentuating this, statement lighting and fans are also finished in black, enhancing the aesthetic. To mitigate the summer heat, a false bamboo-designed ceiling is installed, and it is covered with glass above to adapt the space for Kerala's rainy season.
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