2. • Auroville is an International Comunityear Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu state at
south of India.
• It was constructed to be a “universal city”, who all men, women, could live in
harmony , regardless nationality, race, beliefs and politics.
• Constructed to accomplish “The human unity in diversity”
3. • The urbanistic proposal is unique and develops city in the form of a spiral
symbolizing human evolution and in the center stands the majestic
Matrimandir Temple.
• Currently, it has about 2200 residents originating from 45 countries and
many Indians who live on site and work in various activities. The
population is constantly growing and often some of its thousands of
visitors fall in love with the place and philosophy of life and remain over
there.
4. Founded in the year 1968, Auroville near Pondicherry in South of India is an
international township recognized by the Government of India under special Act
of the Parliament passed in 1988. The city is governed by an autonomous
institution, the Auroville Foundation. Out of necessity in the first years and later
out of a growing awareness for the environment, building construction in
Auroville lays emphasis on sustainability.
5. • Kids from all around world together in the same place.
• Solar energy
• People can apply to be permanent residents of Auroville. All they need to make an
appointment with the “Group Entry” at the end of his time as a guest to confirm
officially its decision.
• It was founded on the principles of integral yoga, designed and developed by Sri
Aurobindo and “Mother”. Concept of city began in 1930 gone, but it was in 1960
that Sri Aurobindo Association in Pondicherry proposed the beginning of its
construction.
6. CONCEPT
In 1965 sketch of Auroville, the Mother laid down the basic concept for
the city. This sketch delineated all the important activity areas that would
fulfill the vision of making it a universal city. For other things she gave a
free hand to Roger Anger, the French architect she had appointed to
oversee the city's physical. development.
One of the most remarkable concepts of Auroville is its master plan, laid
out in form of a galaxy - a galaxy in which several 'arms' or Lines of
Force seem to unwind from a central region.
7. SUSTAINABILITY
“Education, building construction and other services. The architecture of the place
too is the reflection of its society and has a symbiotic relationship with the
landscape. Every building is an example of the owner’s endeavor to create
something special in his or her own way. There are no fixed ideas, techniques or
parameters to tell how to build and thus residents are encouraged to experiment
with materials, designs and construction.”
8. AUROVILLE DEVELOPMENT
Auroville Master Plan is in the form of a circle of 2.5 km radius encompassing
20sqkmwith its development inextricably intertwined with the surrounding villages.
Most ofthe land is generally of poor quality for agriculture and the entire area was
identified as a backward area back in the ‘60s. There are a number of village
settlements located within and in close proximity to the township. Thus, its
development is closely linked with the development of the surrounding villages. The
improvement models evolved in Auroville township, be it plantation, regeneration of
land, water harvesting, education, building technology, etc.
9. What is Auroville?
Auroville is a universal township in the making for a population of up to
50,000 people from around the world.
The project was submitted to government of India, who gave his
approval and send to the UNESCO General Assembly.
10. The Intuitive Architect
Architect Mona Doctor-Pingel graduated from the School of
Architecture, Center for Environmental Planning and Technology
(CEPT), Ahmedabad and did her Masters on Appropriate Technology
from Flensburg University, Germany. She started her design practice in
Auroville in 1995. Her firm Studio Naqshbandi offers a personalized
approach to holistic design solutions with focus on Baubiology (Building
Biology), sustainability and activating the five senses through
architecture, interiors and landscaping.
11. BUILDING WITH EARTH IN AUROVILLE
From the early days of Auroville, in the 1970’s, different experiments
have been made with earth building, with mixed results. The creation of
the former Auroville Building Centre/Earth Unit in 1989, and the
construction of the Visitors’ Centre, started a new era in earthen
architecture. This Visitors’ Centre of 1200 m² was granted the “Hassan
Fathy Award for Architecture for the Poor” in 1992. Built of compressed
stabilised earth blocks, it demonstrated the potential of stabilised earth
as a quality building material.
12. • Earth Institute
• Biogas
• Health Services
• Technical college
• Water Recycling
• Solar Kitchen
• Library
• Boutique
13. MATRIMANDIR
On 28 February, 1968 about five thousand people gathered in a
meeting held on site (Amphitheatre) which would be the center of
future city, for the inauguration ceremony attended by
representatives of about 124 nations including the State of India.
Each one, as a symbolic act, brought a little from the land of their
countries that were mixed and stored in a marble urn in the shape of
lotus flower, which was placed in a special amphitheater place, the
so-called Peace Area.
14. The “Areas of Peace”- located in the city center comprises the
Wonderful MatriMandir Temple and its gardens, the amphitheater
where is saved the “Urn of Human Unity” , with land of 124 nations and
23 Indian States and the lake that creates a atmosphere of calm and
serenity to the place and also serves to irrigate the entire area.
The Residential area- is the largest areas, with about 200 hectares
surrounded by parks, although the main entrance is located on a busy
highway to traffic. Nesssa part of Auroville, are built the “Guest
Houses”, receiving guests from around the world come to know the
philosophy and the Auroville daily , in addition to the homes of
residents with its unique architecture.
15. Cultural area- about 90 hectares is located in the east of the “Area of
Peace” and was planned to become a place to conduct research in
education and artistic expression.
COMPRESSED STABILISED EARTH BLOCKS
CSEB is nowadays the earth technology, which is the most used
worldwide, as well as in Auroville, because it represents a synthesis
between traditional practices and a modern technology. In Auroville,
CSEB are stabilised with 5% cement and have an average dry
compressive crushing strength of 50 kg/cm 2 (5 Mpa) and a wet
compressive crushing strength of 25 kg/cm 2 . The water absorption is
around 10%. Country fired bricks have resist at around 35 kg/cm² for the
dry compressive strength and have a 12% water absorption rate. The
Auroville Earth Institute has designed manual presses for CSEB, which
are manufactured in Auroville by Aureka, one of its steel workshops.
Today, the press 3000 for compressed stabilised earth blocks is being
sold worldwide – mostly in South Asia and in Africa. A few machines
have also been sold in Europe, USA, Dubai and China.
