Baker House

Baker House is a student residence designed by Alvar Aalto located at MIT University in Boston. The curving form of the building protects the building from the busy street along the Charles river by having each window at an angle to the street whilst providing each room with excellent views.

Circulation is located on the side of the building facing MIT allowing the movement and circulation of the building to relate to the activity of the university. The staircases are designed to allow unobstructed views along their entire length increasing the visibility of the students moving through the building and increasing the opportunities for informal interaction.

The brick building with timber window frames gives the building a pleasant domestic feel which reminded me of early 20th century dutch housing. The planning provides important communal areas and a variety of room types for different students increasing the sense of community and diversity within the building.