ABOUT KOTTAYAM CENTRE


The Kottayam project centre of COSTFORD was started on 03 March 2004. Er. Biju P John, who has been involved with COSTFORD from 2000, took the lead in setting up this centre. In a short span of time, COSTFORD Kottayam has been able to execute over 300 hundred residential projects, beside a number of Institutional and government projects. The initial projects of the centre included Laurie Baker’s work – Pallikoodam for which he was making some additions. The tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences at Pampady best exemplifies our approach and principles. We have also built schools, churches, resorts and landscaped public places. We promote recycling of old building materials especially old doors and windows in a big way. Oor, an old age home near Mallapally, is a model example of construction with reused materials salvaged from demolished old buildings. Over 95% of the materials used in the construction of the structure along with landscape, pathways, and boundary walls use materials salvaged from over 20 buildings. The centre is currently located at Thaipparambu, near Karukachal, and undertake work in both Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts .

The Centre of Science and Technology for Rural Development (COSTFORD), is a nonprofit organisation founded in 1985 by Mr. C. Achutha Menon, Kerala’s former Chief Minister; Dr. K.N. Raj, Economist and former Chairman of the Centre for Development Studies (CDS); Laurie Baker, Master Architect; and Mr. T.R. Chandra Dutt, Social Activist.