AUROVILLE

"Auroville wants to
be a universal town
where men and
women of all
countries are able to
live in peace and
progressive harmony
above all creeds, all
politics and all
nationalities. The
purpose of Auroville
is to realise human
unity
 LOCATION OF AUROVILLE
• Auroville International
Bharat Nivas
Villupuram District
Auroville - 605101
Tamil Nadu
India

Auroville is well connected

city by rail and road to
other cities. Auroville is
about 10 kms north of
Pondicherry, in South India Auroville International
AUROBINDO ASHRAM……….
 AUROVILLE CHARACTER
• Auroville belongs to nobody in
particular.
Auroville belongsAuroville will be
the place of an unending education,
of constant progress, and a youth
that never ages .Auroville wants to
be the bridge between the past and
the future manity as a
wholeAuroville will be a site of
material and spiritual researches
for a living embodiment of an
actual Human Unity.
• Auroville belongsAuroville will be
the place of an unending education,
of constant progress, and a youth
that never ages
 POPULATION GROWTH OF AUROVILLE

• Although originally intended

to house 50,000, the actual
population today is 2,007
(1,553 adults and 454
minors), coming from 44
nationalities, 836 of whom
are of Indian origin.[7] The
community is divided up
into neighborhoods with
English, Sanskrit, French
and Tamil names like
Aspiration, Arati, La Ferme,
and Isaiambalam
MASTER PLAN OF AUROVILLE
Auroville s
master plan
incorporates
several
design
improvement
s for auroville
PHYSICAL CHARECTERISTICS
• Auroville is located on the
southeast coast of India in the
state of Tamil Nadu, 100 miles
south of Madras and just north
of the city oThe climate of
Auroville is sub-tropical, with
high humidity, and
temperatures reaching
40C/105F in May and June.
The main rainy season is from
October to December, with an
average yearly rainfall of about
135cm/53inf Pondicherry….

The Auroville site, previously eroded and barren, is a flat plateau 150 feet above
sea level. There are about 80 different settlements spread out over 2,600 acres
within a 20 square-mile circle
 [

HISTORY OF AUROVILLE
• Auroville was founded as a project of Sri
Aurobindo Society on Wednesday 28 February
1968 by Mirra Alfassa, "The Mother". She was an
equal spiritual collaborator of Sri Aurobindo, who
believed that "man is a transitional being". The
Mother expected that this experimental
"universal township" would contribute
significantly in the "progress of humanity towards
its splendid future by bringing together people of
goodwill and aspiration for a better world." The
Mother also believed that such a universal
township will contribute decisively to the Indian
renaissance (Ref. Mother's Agenda, Vol. 9,
dt.3.02.68). The Government of India endorsed
the township, and in 1966, UNESCO also
endorsed it inviting the member-states to
participate in the development of Auroville.
UNESCO re-endorsed Auroville four times more in
the course of the last 40 years[
 SITE PLAN OF AUROVILLE
• In terms of physical
development, Auroville
aims at becoming a model
of the 'city of the future' or
'the city the earth needs'. It
wants to show the world
that future realisations in
all fields of work will allow
us to build beautiful cities
where people sincerely
looking towards a more
harmonious future will
want to live.
•  
 CULTURAL ZONE OF AUROVILLE
•The 103-hectare (240 acres)
spanning Cultural Zone will
have its own specific
vibration emanating from
the various cultural
institutions and research
centres related to
education, arts and sport
that are planned there. City
level cultural uses will find
their place there, such as
auditoriums and exhibition
halls, parks and
playgrounds, green areas,
kiosks and convenience
stores, a stadium and large
spaces with sports facilities.
 AUROVILLE ENVIRONMENT
• Perhaps the most pressing task for
the first settlers in Auroville was to
discover and implement methods of
regenerating the eroded land. Over
the past two decades of effort,
Aurovilians have evolved and
developed sustainable and effective
techniques.

• The key is an integrated water and

soil conservation program. In the
past, the monsoons would wash over
A second important technique for halting
the barren land, carrying topsoil to
erosion was contour bunding. In bunding, the ocean and creating deep ravines
interlocking grids of earth mounds enclose and gullies.
areas of land, preventing runoff and allowing
rainwater to percolate down to replenish the
water table. Extensive bunding has been
carried out over each of the watersheds in
Auroville.
 AUROVILLE EDUCATION
• Schools and academic studies began in 1970.
From those simple beginnings, Auroville now
provides schooling from creche and
kindergarten through middle and high school.
The curriculum includes arts, sciences,
mathematics, languages, and humanities as
well as physical education and sports

Cultural activities, from the fine arts to

the performing arts, have expanded
over the years. Auroville has dance and
music studios, a theater and auditorium,
a video center, a library, and an
exhibition hall
 AUROVILLE TECHNOLOGY
•Conventional methods of energy production are
expensive and often harmful to the increasingly
fragile environment. Aurovilians have explored ways
of generating non-polluting, renewable, and
affordable energy appropriate to local conditions.
•There are at present 30 water-pumping windmills of
various designs working in Auroville. Aurovilians
have manufactured prototypes of an improved
design with wider applicability in India. They have
also integrated numerous solar and biogas systems
into community life.

The Centre for Scientific Research (CSR) was created in 1984 to

fund and promote research in alternative technology in
Auroville. CSR is currently coordinating a government-
sanctioned energy project; providing biogas plants, solar
cookers, and improved cooking stoves for local villages; as well
as producing prefab building components for rural housing.
 AUROVILLE-VILLAGE ACTION
• In 1984 the Village Action Group was
formed to further develop
communication and integration with
the villages. Aurovilians working with
the local population have developed
programs for family planning, health,
sanitation, day and evening schools,
and training and apprenticeship in
crafts.

There are six centers in Auroville working with

the villages. Isai Ambalam is a cooperative
employing 300 villagers with a primary school
for 100 village children. It is also the
headquarters for the Village Action Group
 MATRIMANDIR-AUROVILLE
MATRIMANDIR SOUL OF
AUROVULLE
all over the world, Matrimandir stands as a
living example of human unity in diversity
which Auroville seeks to express and manifest
a unity essential for our planet's survival
The Matrimandir (under
construction) as seen from the
Amphitheatre, with the inauguration
ceremony urn in the foreground.
The Matrimandir is both the
physical and spiritual center of
Auroville. Matrimandir, in Sanskrit,
means "Temple of the Divine
Mother". Its inner chamber is
meant to be a place for quiet and
concentration, void of any ritual,
where anyone can sit to meditate
in silence
AUROVILLE-SELF GOVERNMENT
• Organization and collective
decision making has been
one of the most challenging
aspects of Auroville's
growth. Over two decades,
numerous systems and
revisions have evolved.
As Auroville has grown larger and
more complex, it has tried to maintain
this original spirit of responding to
real needs, adapting its organization
to changes in individual and collective
growth rather than succumbing to
bureaucratic forms and habits.
 AUROVILLE-SEVICES
• Auroville has established many basic
services over the years. One of the first
services, Pour Tous (meaning "for all") was
established as a food-purchasing and
distribution service
The Entry and Visa Service receives
newcomers and processes visa
applications, the Auroville Greenwork
Resource Center oversees land
management and utilization, and
Aurofuture coordinates town planning.
Other services include the Auroville A project-writing and consultation
Health Center, the Electrical and Water service designed to improve the quality
Service, and a Financial Service that of project proposals coming from
facilitates financial exchanges Auroville.
 AUROVILLE-PRODUCTION UNITS
• Auroville is striving to become a self-
sufficient community. At present there
are over 50
income-earning production units in
Auroville, including handicrafts,
construction and architecture, printing
and graphic design, electronics, biogas-
converter and windmill manufacturing,
Aurelec, the largest production unit in fish farming, and cheese-making
Auroville, manufactures PC-compatible
computers. Aurelec has received a National
Productivity Award and is one of the most
successful small companies in its field in
India.
Auroville's services and production units
provide valuable employment and training
for thousands of local villagers, helping them
acquire valued skills and raising their
standard of living.
PRARTHNA IN AUROVILLE
• The housing of Prarthna
started as a conventional
housing development with
an array of Apartment
blocks comprising of
different types of Housing
units. But after the first 2
blocks it became clear that
a mixed land use of row
houses and apartments
would be more
appropriate for the needs
of Auroville
 Architects PART OF
auroville
SHERI CASTELINO PINO MARCHESE
• Graduated in
architecture from • Graduated in
K.R.V.I.A. in 1997, architecture from
Bombay. Studied University of
Italian Cinema & Florence in 1990.
Literature in Perugia, Practised Pottery
Italy, 2000. at "Antica Fornace
Di Bacchereto' in
Commendatio Member of Auroville Vinci-Tuscany,
Industrial Zone Group 1982-84.
n Award for
2002-2006
State Member of Auroville Set up Photography Archive Bank of
Architect of Planning Group 2003-2006 over 50000 pictures on all areas of
the Year 2008 Member of Auroville interest on Auroville 1968-present &
(for Tamil Planning & Development partly on India
Nadu, Kerala, Council 2004-2005
Pondicherry)
 ANUPAMA KUNDO PETER MATTHIAS ANDERSCHITZ
• I was admitted by
the Mother in
• Came to Auroville
May '71
in 1990.
Graduated from J.J 'Ich bin ein Berliner',
college of taxi driver, student of
Architecture, architecture and
Bombay, in 1989. planning at the
Technical University
After working for a
Berlin, diploma
year in Bombay
Return to Auroville, and (dipl.ing) in '68 with Networking and
moved to
since then involved in O.M.Ungers public relations for
Auroville.
building up 'Kolam', an Auroville, in India and
architecture, design and Europe, especially in
construction unit. Berlin, Prague,
Auroville
POONAM MALCHANDINI SATPREM MAINI
• Born in Mumbai • Satprem Maïni is a
on May 10th French Aurovilian
1975, Poonam architect and is
Mulchandani mo the director of the
ved  to Auroville Auroville Earth
in 1997 after Institute. He is
graduating from representative for
the Kamla Raheja India and South
Institute for Asia to the “
Architecture and UNESCO Chair Eart
Architecture is a hen Architecture Since 1989,
Environmental
celebration . . . , Constructive Satprem's life has
Studies.
of form . . . Cultures and been dedicated to
lines . . . light . . . Sustainable Auroville
colour . . . and Development
nature.
 SUHASINI AYER HELMUT
• My evolution as an • He came to
architect up to the auroville in
point of the 1979. 10
educational experience years
in SPA Delhi was experience in
'normal' in the planning and
absolute sense of the design of
word. But then having universities
decided to live and and medical
practice in 'Auroville' Residential houses,
schools in apartment buildings,
has given me an
Germany group housing and
experiential learning
which is not 'normal' in institutional buildings,
the sense of types of mainly in Pondicherry
projects that had to be and Auroville
designed
FLOW CHART OF AUROVILLE
 SOME SPACES IN AUROVILLE
TRAINING CENTRE OF
AUROVILLE EARTH
INSTITUTE.

Apartments on four floors at

Vikas - Auroville
 VIEWS

• AUROVILLE
VISITORS
CENTRE

AUROBINDO ASHRAM
IN AUROVILLE…….