Proposal for Auroville City Center. Anupama Kundoo architects. 2007

Auroville, a city-in-the-making, is located 

150 kms south of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, South India, 

envisaged for a population of 50,000, 

with the aim of achieving human unity. 

Innaugurated on 28.02.1968, 

Auroville has presently more than 1500 residents from 35 

countries. 

CITY CENTRE 

AUROVILLE

contents 

01 introduction p. 03 

02 components of the city centre p. 11 

03 access and mobility p. 15 

04 distibution of volumes, population and services p. 23 

05 parks and gardens p. 29 

06 matrimandir area p. 35 

07 lake p. 39 

08 green network p. 43 

09 crown buildings p. 47 

10 administrative belt p. 57 

11 habitat belt p. 71 

12 CIRHU p. 81 

13 vocational training area p. 85 

14 offices of the industrial zone p. 93 

15 international zone p. 101 

16 residential zone p. 105 

17 cultural zone p. 113 

18 references p. 121

01 introduction

extent and location 

Auroville, a city-in-the-making, is located 150 kms 

south of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, South India, envisaged 

for a population of 50,000, with the aim of achieving 

human unity. 

Innaugurated on 28.02.1968, Auroville has presently 

more than 1500 residents from 35 countries. 

The City Centre of Auroville covers a surface of 384 

acres with a radius of 690 meters around Auroville’s 

centre. 

Chennai 

Auroville 

Pondicherry 

AUROVILLE CITY CENTRE_PROPOSAL 2007

ackground 

Due to the scattered land situation & stewardship in 

the early years of Auroville; the development had 

grown very haphazard. 

Further, the cost of infrastructure in proportion to the 

cost of structures is far too high if this trend continues. 

Today, however, most of the land is purchased in the 

city centre area and it is very feasible to concentrate 

the development around Matrimandir, which is now 

nearing completion. 

lands owned by Auroville 

(Masterplan 2001) 

 


aims 

The city centre development aims: 

To manifest urban tissue, density and architectural 

quality 

To learn urban management in accordance to The Auroville 

Charter 

To target a financially sustainable development 

To propose a coherent and understandable project 

To lay common and permanent infrastructure 

To provide immediately large areas for parks and gardens 

To implement the first phase of traffic pollution free 

area within the town 

To simplify access to services and public facilities 

To provide access to international, residential, cultural 

and industrial activities at walking distances 


the potential 

Being still quite a virgin area, the City Centre offers 

the possibility to develop according to the highest 

aims and objectives of Auroville. 

The small scale of the project provides the testing 

ground for innovative infrastructural systems and 

buildings and for learning how to manage the finances 

in a collective way. 10 10 of the total population of 

Auroville i.e.5000 inhabitants will be provided residential 

accommodation in the city centre area. 

A concentrated development of Auroville’s City Centre 

is not only urgent for Auroville’s collective focus, 

but also a very feasible, practical and economically 

advantageous option. 

The actual physical realisation of this ‘City Centre’ will 

be a model example to experiment at a small scale, 

the future developments for the whole of Auroville. 

 


context of the 4 zones 

The city centre of Auroville is located in the context 

of Auroville‘s masterplan consisting of four principle 

zones namely; International, Residential, Cultural & 

Industrial; which radiate from the centre in a spiraling 

movement accomodating a total population of 50,000 

inhabitants. 

INDUSTRIAL ZONE 

A circular ring road called `the crown´goes along a diameter 

of 1.25 kilometers and is the main spine of this 

city, seen as a lively ´street´which will accomodate all 

the principle services distributed according to the zone 

that it cuts through. 

INTERNATIONAL ZONE 

CULTURAL ZONE 

Within the crown each of the above mentioned zones 

fuse together, overlap and interpenetrate each other. 

The City Centre is the area within this Crown Road, 

where the essence of each zone is located but without 

segregation from the other as a unified whole, and 

from which outside of the crown the zone proper can 

radiate. 

RESIDENTIAL ZONE 


02 components of the city centre

components 

Matrimandir area 

Lake 

Green Network 

Crown Development 

Administrative Belt 

Habitat Belt 

CIRHU 

Vocational Training Centre 

Industrial Zone 

International Zone 

Residential Zone 

Cultural Zone 

12 


city centre map 

The following are the components of the City Centre: 

1. Matrimandir Area 

2. Lake 

3. Green Network 

4. Crown Development 

5. Administrative Belt 

6. Habitat Belt 

7. CIRHU 

(Center for International Research 

in Human Unity) 

8. Vocational Training Centre 

9. Offices of the Industrial Zone 

10. International Zone 

11. Residential Zone 

12. Cultural Zone 

INDUSTRIAL ZONE 

CULTURAL ZONE 

INTERNATIONAL ZONE 

RESIDENTIAL ZONE 

AUROVILLE CITY CENTRE_PROPOSAL 2007 13

03 access and mobility

oad network hierarchy 

Preference for non-polluting movements 

The proposed layout of Auroville is ideal to develop a 

motor-free city. From the Outer Ring Road Matrimandir 

Area can be reached within 12 minutes walking time 

(or 4 minutes by cycle). The longest possible distance, 

i.e., to cross the City Area diagonally requires 36 

minutes. In a motor-free city, preference is given to 

pedestrians, cyclists and to non-polluting movement 

resulting in a peaceful mix of all traffic participants 

on street spaces that are non-exclusive and common 

for all. An environment free of noise and other traffichazards 

befits a “peace area”. Children and the elderly 

can move freely. 

Therefore for the city area of Auroville it is recommended 

to create a zone where pedestrians take priority. 

Cyclists will be allowed where they do not disturb. 

Cars and motorbikes will be permitted only when necessary 

for emergencies, or for delivery and removal. 

Only those with walking problems will be allowed to 

use motorised vehicles in the pedestrian zone. Access 

for vehicles for delivery and removal can be restricted 

to certain times of the day. All motor-vehicles will have 

to adjust their speed to the pedestrians. Public transport 

buses are permitted to use the streets and pathways 

of the city area. 15 km/h is appropriate as the 

maximum speed. This results in an average speed of 

10 km/h for a bus-line, including the time for stops. 

road 

service road 

pedestrian 

train for children 

underground road 

recreational pathway 

forest pathway 

16 


distances 

The centre of Auroville is formed by Matrimandir, Amphitheatre 

and Banyan Tree. In the Master Plan, according 

to the Galaxy concept, green network (containing 

pedestrian lanes and cycle paths) radiates out 

from the centre. 

Within 5 minutes walking distance of Matrimandir Area 

lies the Crown Road, which encircles the inner city area. 

The Crown Road is conceived as a circle with a radius 

of about 700 m. Within approximately 7 minutes walking 

distance of the Crown Road, the Outer Ring Road 

is located with a radius of about 1.25 km. 

The boundary of the township is also defined in the 

form of a circle. With a radius of 2.5 km, it encloses an 

area of about 20 sq.km. (2000 ha.) 

Billinger sketch (Mobility Report 2005) 


vehicular circulation 

The crown road is a circular street which surrounds the 

city centre and which is fed by radial streets, forming 

a connection to the outer ring road. Vehicular acces 

stops here and is permitted via service roads only for 

specific timings. 

An underground road connects the crown road with 

the administrative belt and several parking facilities in 

the habitat belt. 

crown road 

service and delivery road 

18 


vehicular circulation 

underground access and parking 

train for children 


pedestrian criculation 

Inside the crown road, pedestrian movement has an 

absolute priority. partially shaded walkways, promenades 

and bridges connect the buildings, while pathways 

with different types of pavings give access to 

the gardens and the green network, useable for byciclists, 

skaters and hikers. 

pedestrian streets 

recreational pathways 

20 


atmosphere 

pathways of the green network 


04 distribution of volumes, population and services

uilding heights 

Most of the buildings follow a height restriction of 

ground +1 or ground +2 levels. Only important buildings 

like the Matrimandir, the CIRHU or the townhall 

gain more height, in addition to that the so called 

„lines of force“ are also allowed to grow higher. The 

ones that touch the vocational training centre in the 

north have their highest point towards the city centre, 

whereas the ones in the residential zone grow higher 

towards the crown road. 

G +11 

G +10 

G +8 

G +7 

G +6 

G +5 

G +4 

G +3 

G +2 

G +1 

24 


distribution of population 

5.4 

5.3 

5.2 

5.1 

The city centre will accommodate residential units for 

a population of 5,000 inhabitants, and while the residential 

zone does enter the city center, the population 

will be distributed throughout the area as follows: 

4 

1. residential zone: 1,250 

2. habitat belt: 1,500 

2 

3. crown: 1,900 

4.vocational training centre: 100 

3 

5. offices of the industrial zone 

5.1 Block 1: 60 

5.2 Block 2: 30 

5.3 Block 3: 35 

5.4 Block 4: 25 

total: 150 

7 

6.2 

6. cultural zone 

6.1 Kindergarten: 20 

6.2 Faculties: 30 

total: 50 

7. international zone: 50 

1 

6.1 

3 


distribution of service buildings 

Social infrastructure will be distributed appropriately 

according to the Table provided in Page 66 of the Perspective 

Plan 2025 to serve the needs of 5000 residents 

of the City Centre. 

Over and above there will be a higher proportion of 

services in the crown area as the crown is the main 

service area for the rest of the city. 

other 

service 

26 


distribution of service buildings 

Tab le 18: S o c i a l I n f r ast r u ct u r e r e q u i r e m e n t f o r a P o p u l at i o n o f 15 , 000 

( N o . o f fac i l i t i es at va r i o u s l eve l s) 

I n f r ast r u ct u r e 

Total 

a rea 

( ha.) 

C o m m u n i t y 

L eve l 

Sect o r 

L eve l 

N e i g h b o u r h o o d 

L eve l 

D i st r i ct 

/ 

C i ty 

L eve l 

P o p u l at i o n Se r ve d 250 1 ,000 5 ,000 15 ,000 

H ea l t h 8 

E mergen c y 1 

C lini c 1 

Pol y c l ini c 1 

Hospital 1 

Alternati v e health 

1 1 1 

F a c ilities 

E d u cat i o n 80 

C rè c he & Kindergarten 1 

S chool (age 6-10) 1 

S chool (age 11-19) 1 

U ni v e r s it y 1 

R ec r eat i o n 

C o m m unit y p ar k s & 

pla y g round s 

1 

Se ctor par k s & 

1 


N eighbourhood par k s 

1 

& 


C it y l e v e l pla y g round 1 

C o m m e r c i a l 30 

Shopping 5 s hop s 10 shop s 25 s hop s store 

Gue sthouses 2 8 

T ouri st c entre 3 

C u l t u r e 10 

E x h ibition s pa c e 1 

C ine m a 1( mini- c ine m a) 1 

Auditorium 1 

U t i l i ty & Se r v i ces 25 

M aintenance c entres 1 1 

Z onal offices 1 

C it y l e v e l offices & 

1 

T o w n ad m ini stration 

Burial & c re m ation s ite 1 

Water di stribution 1 

Waste w ater treatment 1 

Solid w a ste re c y c l ing 1 1 

Se rvice n o d es 32 

T raffic & v i l lage 

interface facilities 

source: Master Plan Perspective 2025, p. 66 

8 


05 parks and gardens

distribution of parks 

The principle parks and gardens throughout Autoville 

will be connceted to from a green network through 

which an alternative and nonpolluting mobility will be 

provided to the city. 

This means that starting from the rnatrimandir gardens, 

the four principal parks and the green network 

and all other green city areas as well as the green belt 

are to be seen as one living green body. 

Mahakali Park 

The city area will be structured by four major parks 

which spread out from the centre to the green belt 

separating the 4 zones of the city. They will act as 

green lungs for the city, improving the climate with the 

air circulation, providing recreation for the residents 

and connecting the city centre to the green belt by 

means of pedestrian and cycle paths. 

Mahasaraswati Park 

In different areas of the park there will be smaller 

gardens with special site themes to create a diversity 

of spaces within the park, yet all being harmoniously 

connected. There will be recreational facilities 

like playgrounds, resting places, jogging paths, picnic 

sites, and educational facilities for nature awareness, 

green houses and arboretums. 

Since 55 of the city will be open spaces or permeable 

surface, in order to prevent it from becoming residual 

space or concrete deserts as in other towns and 

cities, it has been planned to accommodate greenery 

of an organized nature. 

Maheswari Park 

Mahalakshmi Park 

30 


distribution of gardens 

The distribution of gardens in the City Centre follows 

a radiating logic and has three major components: 

the core (Matrimandir gardens), a ring in the middle 

(Cultural zone A and the gardens between the administrative 

and the habitat belt), and a further ring of 

gardens which is directly connected to the buildings of 

the crown road. 


components 

4 

core middle ring outer ring 

32 


circulation 

jogging track 

Some of the gardens are intertwined with different systems 

of circulation, e.g. the recreational pathway in 

the the gardens of the cultural zone A, which connects 

the buildings of the Kindergarten in a playful way, or 

the jogging track between the administrative- and the 

habitat belt. 



06 matrimandir area

matrimandir area 

The Matrimandir Area is at the heart of the city and 

contains the following elements: 

1. The Matrimandir: place for concentration. 

2. The Banyan Tree: the geographical centre of Auroville 

and the only tree standing in the area at Auroville’s 

inception, symbolizing unity. 

3. The Urn and Amphitheatre: This was the site of 

the inauguration of Auroville on 28th February 1968 

where a lotus bud shaped urn still stands containing 

the soil of 121 nations and 23 Indian states, brought 

by youth and combined ceremoniously in a demonstration 

of the unity aspired by Auroville. The amphitheatre 

serves as a very special gathering place for 

Aurovilians. 

2. Banyan Tree 

4. The Matrimandir gardens 

1. Matrimandir 

3. Urn and Amphitheatre 

4. Matrimandir gardens 

36 


matrimandir gardens 

6 

7 

5 

8 

4 

9 

3 

10 

2 

11 

1 

12 

Surrounding the Matrimandir, and amidst the lake, 

an oval is planned containing twelve distinct gardens. 

Beginning from the western pillar of Matrimandir and 

moving counter-clockwise they will develop the following 

themes: 

1. Existence 

2. Consciousness 

3. Bliss 

4. Light 

5. Life 

6. Power 

7. Wealth 

8. Utility 

9. Progress 

10. Youth 

11. Harmony 

12. Perfection 

In their choice of plants, these gardens will represent 

some qualities related to the overall theme through 

the meanings the Mother gave to certain flowers. So 

the entire planting will enhance the special garden 

theme. 

More than in the outer parks and green corridors, there 

will be experimentation with a diversity of colours, 

textures and shapes within a very small area, the average 

area of the gardens being about 500 to 1300 

sq.metres. Separated by radial paths between them, 

and closed up, they continue the twelve circle sectors 

and the radial lines of the Matrimandir itself. Together 

with the Banyan tree, the Amphitheatre and a rose 

garden they form the central Peace area with its surrounding 

lake. 

There should be an atmosphere of tranquility and 

contemplation in this area, which cannot be disturbed 

by any busy traffic. In other words they will be a 

unique feature of the townscape, radiating their energy 

throughout the city area surroundings. 


07 lake

the lake 

The lake surrounding the oval of the Matrimandir Gardens 

will serve a dual purpose: first, to help create an 

atmosphere of calm and serenity at the heart of the 

city, and second, to act as a significant groundwater 

recharge area, by acting as a reservoir for rainwater 

and allowing if to percolate into the underlying aquifer. 

40 


concept of rain water harvesting 

Harvested rain water from the city will be used to fill 

the central lake having a surface area of 181,000 m², 

a maximum depth of 10 m, and a slope of the embankment 

of 1 : 3, the average depth would be 7,60 

m, and the storage volume would be 1,376,000 m³. 

sketch form Ingenieur Büro Kraft, Berlin 


08 green network

green network 

The interconnection of various parks in the city area 

will make it possible to provide green routes for mobility 

within Auroville for those using bicycles or walking, 

the distances between zones being very small. 

44 


green network 

The parks in the city centre are connected to other 

green areas, altogether constituting the green network. 

Between the crown road and the outer ring road there 

is an already existing structure of green spaces, which 

will be absorbed; outside of the outer ring road the 

green network enlarges into a ring of almost continuosly 

green space. 


09 crown buildings

crown buildings 

The crown is the main service ring of Auroville, where 

the principle service facilities if each zone are situated. 

The ring, cutting through the 4 zones, also links and 

provides continuity between the zones. Thus it will be 

the main hub, the spine, the very heart of Auroville’s 

city life. 

study model Roger Anger 

48 


circulation 

Along the crown road there will also be the main traffic 

of the city. On the external face of the buildings will 

be located the main vehicular traffic while on the inner 

face of the buildings will be the gardens of the crown 

buildings facing the Matrimandir. 

Between these two faces a pedestrian street will contain 

the street life, expanding and contracting in width 

to accommodate other necessary and significant outdoor 

public space. Walkways and bridges will further 

link neighbouring buildings to create a unified pedestrian 

circulation also vertically and horizontally on the 

upper levels. 

Through the buildings and between them, at places it 

will be possible to cut through the building mass and 

to enter the gardens and the other sub zones of the 

city center for pedestrians. At few points the radial 

roads will penetrate the crown buildings to serve the 

required built areas. Another kind of penetration will 

be the 4 principal parks that will continue into the city 

center also containing pedestrian and bicycle traffic. 


distribution of built spaces 

2 

1 

Service buildings: 

The crown is primarily for service buildings and facilities 

according to the zone that it serves. These are 

listed below. 

Residential spaces: 

In addition the crown will absorb a residential population 

of 1900 inhabitants distributed throughout the 

ring uniformly. 

The crown in the International Zone (1) 

As the service area for the International Zone, there 

will be the crown restaurants, hotels guest-houses, exhibition 

halls, meeting rooms, infomation center, world 

news center, post-office, bank, restaurants and various 

facilities selectively open to visitors and participants in 

the various activities organized in Auroville (seminars, 

conferences, sports events, cultural festivals etc.) 

One main element in the crown will be a projected 

International Centre/Unity Pavilion which will provide 

specific facilities such as guest rooms, office space, 

restaurants to the various pavilions so as to foster 

contacts between guests from many countries and 

common spaces for co-ordination. 

The crown in the Industrial Zone (2) 

The main activities in this part of the Industrial Zone 

will include vocational training-centers, administrative 

buildings of the city, workshops, studios, social centers, 

health and emergency centers, security- centre,. 

post-office, telecommunication centre, bank etc. 

50 



The crown in the Residential Zone (3) 

In the residential zone the principal function of the 

crown will be to provide for the daily needs of the 

residents in terms of restaurants, collective kitchens, 

food distribution centers, community dining, various 

shops and services, coffee - shops, cinemas, theatres, 

exhibition spaces, book stores,recreation centers, 

art-galleries, nature-cure centers, post-offices 

etc. 

The crown in the Cultural Zone (4) 

The main elements here will consist of art studios, audio-visual 

studios, cinemas, theatres, exhibition spaces, 

laboratories, institutes of research, museum, hall 

of culture, auditorium, gymnasiums, swimming pools, 

student residences, health centres, libraries, youth 

hostels, Sri Aurobindo International institute of Educational 

Research, Centre of Research on Indian Culture 

etc. 

4 

3 


oad sections 

drawings from „Auroville Mobility“ 2005 

52 


concept of pedestrian streets 

The buildings of the crown are alle linked through a 

pedestrian pathway. The schematic examples below 

show some possible interactions between the buildings 

and the pathway. 


design guidelines 

The following design guidelines and architectural features 

are recommended for this area: 

1. Massing 

The crown buildings will be readable as unified mass 

that is permeable and transparent at places. Green 

areas such as the principal parks and other corridors 

of the green network should not cut or delink the continuity 

of the crown pedestrian path. They could be 

made to pass in some creative and imaginative ways 

2. Heights 

The crown buildings will have 1 to 2 levels above the 

ground floor. The ground floor of the building to be 3.5 

m and the total building height not to exceed 10m. The 

ground floor may also be only connected with bridges 

at 3.5m. 

5. Distribution of spaces 

Most of the infrastructure and services is to be located 

towards the crown road and to be avoided from the 

inner side of the crown to protect the adjacent green 

areas. 

No parking or such services may be located on the 

inner side. 

Some parking (underground) could be integrated within 

the crown building but without disturbing the pedestrian 

path. Temporarily some parking can be organised 

across the road 

6. Other architectural requirements 

Building materials should be selected with a view to 

project a consistent language to the crown building 

Proposal should include for a minimum 0.1 hectareacre 

area of development. 

3. Building Edges and Setbacks 

Buildings will extend to touch the plot line on the edge 

facing the vehicular road. Although recesses and setbacks 

may be also provided at places.In order to be 

able to maintain the curvature of the crown, the uninterrupted 

running length of the building to be restricted 

to a maximum of 20m if the face is a straight 

edge, or alternatively the building face may be designed 

in accordance with the curvature of the crown 

building plot. 

4. Horizontal and Vertical connections of the pede 

strian street 

The ground floor should have space for continuous circulation 

in the form of colonnades, porticos etc. for the 

pedestrians. The inner street thus created, will be completely 

continuous and mostly covered running parallel 

to the crown road and sandwiched between the buildings, 

will be free of motorised transport. The width of 

the path can be varying (from 2m to 10m even) with 

levels and steps but with barrier-free access 

Every building is to be visually and physically connected 

to the next buildings so as to create a harmonious 

continuity and impart an urban language to the 

whole crown. Provision for suitable connection of further 

crown buildings adjacent to a building proposed, 

must be an integral part of the proposal 

54 


area calculations 

total plot: 146,451 sqm 

International Zone 

Total Plot Area 

23,562 sqm 

Cultural Zone 


25,410 sqm 

Primary area (60 of plot area) 

(20m wide outer circle) 

14,137 sqm 



15,246 sqm 

Secondary area (40 of plot area) 

(15m wide inner cricle) 

9,424 sqm 



10,164 sqm 

Ground Coverage Primary area 

(60 of primary plot area) 

Ground Coverage Secondary area 

(20 of secondary plot area) 

8,482 sqm 

1,885 sqm 

Ground Coverage Primary area 9,148 sqm 


Ground Coverage Secondary area 2,033 sqm 


Maximum Total Building footprint 

10,367 sqm 


11,181 sqm 

Useable area per floor 

(65 of footprint) 

Total useable area 

(over an average of 2.5 floors) 

Residential Zone 








6,739 sqm 

16,846 sqm 

58,538 sqm 

35,122 sqm 

23,415 sqm 

21,073sqm 




25,756 sqm 

Useable area per floor (65% of footprint) 16,741 sqm 

Total useable area (2.5 floors) 

41,853 sqm 


Total useable area 

(over an average of 2.5 floors) 

Industrial Zone 








18,169 sqm 

38,941 sqm 

23,365 sqm 

15,576 sqm 

14,019 sqm 




17,134 sqm 


Total useable area (2.5 floors) 

27,842 sqm 


10 administrative belt

administrative belt 

The administrative belt has been assigned 7 hectares, 

1.4 of the city area and is to accommodate 

all the city administrative offices, their supporting 

facilities(Administrative Area)and housing for 1500 

persons(Habitat). 

The Administrative Area curves around the Matrimandir 

so that all the main functions of collective organization 

are directly in contact with Auroville’s centre, 

and its influence. The curved belt has public buildings 

partly inter-connected to each other, along the inner 

side facing Matrimandir. 

The administrative buildings will be visually connected 

as a comprehensive whole. The ground floor façade 

will provide a continuous covered walk-way/ promenade 

for public circulation, with the Matrimandir on one 

side and the reception/exhibition areas of each main 

building on the other side. 

58 


circulation 

underground parking 

delivery road during specific timings 

An underground vehicular access will penetrate into 

the city-center area from the crown road leading to 

the common basement parking for the administrative 

belt located under the main townhall building. 

A service road for deliveries is located in the outer layer 

of the administrative belt adjacent to the park, it 

will allow vehicular movement during certain times of 

the day. At other times it will be used by bicycles and 

pedestrian movement. 

The administrative buildings will be internally served 

through a lively street with buildings on either side 

and spilling on to public open spaces. 

Along the front facade is a raised walkway connecting 

the buildings which is protected under roofoverhangs 

of various buildings. This walkway would 

connect various exhibition spaces open to the public 

located in each building. 

The buildings will be also connected on the upper level 

through bridges along the front facade. 

Finally a lake promenade will allow pedestrian movement 

at the lake edge through landscaped gardens 

and artworks. 

internal street connecting buildings and public spaces 

shaded and raised walkway 

lake promenade 


distribution of spaces 

There will be distinct prominent buildings for the main 

functions of administration and efficient organization 

of Auroville, and there will be intermediate buildings 

accommodating the supporting facilities that are 

common to the administration zone as a whole, such 

as cafeteria, exhibition spaces, photocopying, binding 

and telecommunication facilities. 

20 

60 



main buildings common buildings service buildings 

CUR an example of a main building, 

the multimedia-center an example of a common building 

the various buildings of the administrative zone are a compact 

mass interspersed with courtyards 

the main townhall is higher than the 

other buildings 


area statements 

8 

2 

1 

12 

4 

10 

9 

5 

11 

3 

1 main townhall 8.565 sqm 

2 municipal services 522 sqm 

3 economy 364 sqm 

4 planning/construction 683 sqm 

5 education 706 sqm 

6 unity/mediation 364 sqm 

7 matrimandir office 321 sqm 

8 scientific research 341 sqm 

9 village relations/bioregion 432 sqm 

10 internal/external relations 413 sqm 

11 art & culture 783 sqm 

12 auroville foundation office 167 sqm 

6 

7 

7 

62 


space calculations 

administration area 

total plot area 

max. groundcoverage 

total building footprint 

footprint main buildings 

footprint common & 

service buildings 

25,766 sqm 

50 

12,883 sqm 

7,700 sqm (60 of total) 

5,183 sqm (40 of total) 

main buildings 

height townhall ground +3 or +4 

height others ground +2 

useable area per floor 

total useable area over 

3 levels 

additional area for the 

townhall due to height 

total useable area for 

main buildings 

5,005 sqm (65% of footprint) 

15,015 sqm 

5000 sqm 

20,015 sqm 

common buildings 

height ground + 1 

useable area per floor 

total useable area over 

2 levels 

3,369 sqm (65% of footprint) 

6,738 sqm 


sections 

townhall: 

ground floor +4 

administrative area: 

ground floor +1/+2 

64 



The following urban design guidelines and architectural 

features common to all buildings in this area are 

recommended: 

1 - massing 

The buildings of the administrative area should be readable 

as a compact mass rather than single standing 

buildings. For this it is recommended to have a ground 

coverage of 50. The unbuilt spaces should form positive 

outdoor public spaces instead of being mere left 

over spaces. They would appear to be punctures in 

this compact mass. 

the administrative buildings have a direct contact 

to the matrimandir 

service buildings such as cafeteria 

2 - heights 

Main buildings will be ground + 2 floors and standout 

as important with the exception of the main townhall 

building which could go up by two more floors. Common 

buildings could be ground + 1 with an occasional 

second floor. Service buildings could be groundfloor 

only or ground + 1. 

3 - building edges and setbacks 

Along the side facing the Matrimandir the buildings 

must touch the plot edge whereas on the side facing 

the park the buildings maybe setback if necessary. 

walkways on the upper level between buildings 

positive unbuilt public spaces puncture the compact 

mass of administrative buildings 

4 - bridges/walkways 

The buildings would be preferably interconnected 

as much as possible through various bridges and 

walkways on the upper level, while simultaneously 

providing shade to walkways on the ground floor. This 

is particulary important along the front facade connecting 

main buildings. 


views / vistas 

66 



The access ways into the Matrimandir are extended visually 

through the administrative belt to elongate the 

visual openings into the landscape. These ways provide 

transparency to the park and further beyond into 

the habitat belt. The residents from the habitat belt 

can easily access these vistas through the triangular 

common facility spaces. 


concept of open spaces 

Between buildings are well framed open spaces that 

contain outdoor activity and public life. 

Wherever possible, walkway bridges will be provided, 

even on upper floors, for easy circulation and further 

enhancement of the visual continuity of the whole. 

The innermost row of buildings is proposed to be a 

series of closely connected buildings for visual continuity, 

not higher than ground plus two stores with 

the exception of the main town hall. The main administrative 

buildings could be built up to the maximum 

height ,whereas the supporting ancillary functions 

common to the whole could be ground plus one, lower 

and less important structures that could be interspersed 

between the main buildings. 

68 


concept of green spaces 

The administrative belt has along it´s entire length a 

contact to the urban landscape. On the inner side is 

the lake and the Matrimandir gardens. 

On the outer side is a park. 


11 habitat belt

habitat belt 

Administrative zone is to accommodate housing for 

1500 persons(Habitat) 

to prevent deserted areas of the city at night. 

Between the two belts of ground plus two and occasionally 

three floor high buildings, there is a wide and 

continuous relief space of green. This space will also 

accommodate the necessary common infrastructural 

support for both sides, the Administartive Area and 

the Habitat, such as waste water treatment plants 

etc. but in such a way that the spirit remains to be 

like a public park or garden. 

72 


components 

housing areas 


An underground vehicular access will penetrate into 

the city-center area from the crown road leading to 

common basement parking points for the habitat belt 

located under each of the areas assigned for common 

facilities of the habitat buildings . 

The habitat buildings will be internally served through 

a lively street with buildings on either side and spilling 

on to public open spaces. 

Smaller gardens will occur between buildings of an intimate 

scale while the two parks on either side of the 

habitat belts will take care of green spaces common to 

the entire residential area. 

There will be 4 sectors of housing areas which will be 

ground + 2 and occationally 3. 

In between these sectors are triangular spaces that accomodate 

the common facility buildings for the above 

sectors. For example parking , provisions, laundries, 

and cafeteria. 

green and open spaces extend from the street on 

either side between buildings as public spaces 

points of underground parkings 

internal street providing access to houses 


area statements 

D 

C 

B 

A 

74 



A 

B 

C 

D 

plotarea 

5,342.46 sqm 

10,409.44 sqm 

13,294.00 sqm 

14,890.10 sqm 

groundcoverage 50 

2,671.23 sqm 

5,204.70 sqm 

6,647.00 sqm 

7,445.05 sqm 

usable area 65% per floor 

1,736.30 sqm 

3,383.10 sqm 

4,310.60 sqm 

4,839.30 sqm 

usable area over 3.5 floors 

6,077.00 sqm 

11,841.00 sqm 

15,122.00 sqm 

16,938.00 sqm 

common facilities within cluster 

8 sqm/person 

1,519.00 sqm 

2,960.00 sqm 

3,781.00 sqm 

4,235.00 sqm 

available residencial usable area 

4,558.00 sqm 

8,881.00 sqm 

11,341.00 sqm 

12,703.00 sqm 

couples: 60 sqm/apartment, 

40 of area 

1,519 sqm (26 apartments) 




singles: 30 sqm/apartment, 

40 of area 





families: 90 sqm/apartment, 

20 of area 





number of residents 

183 

360 

456 

508 

TOTAL NUMBER OF RESIDENTS 

1,507 PEOPLE 

37 



habitat belt: 

ground floor +1/+2 

76 





recommended: 

1 - massing 

The buildings of the habitat area should be readable as 

a coherent and unified mass rather than single standing 

buil dings. For this it is recommended to 

have a ground coverage of 50. The unbuilt spaces 

should form positive outdoor public spaces instead of 

being mere left over spaces. 

2 - heights 

Habitat buildings will be ground + 2 floors or 3 floors 

uniformly distributed. Basement spaces may be provided 

for services if found necessary. Common facility 

buildings could be groundfloor only or ground + 1. 


Along both edges of the length of the plot, buildings 

must touch the plot edge, whereas on the side facing 

the inner street the buildings maybe setback from the 

street if desired. 



The access ways into the Matrimandir are extended visually 

through the administrative belt to elongate the 

visual openings into the landscape. 

These ways provide transparency to the park and further 

beyond into the habitat belt. The residents from 

the habitat belt can easily access these vistas through 

the triangular common facility spaces. 

78 


concept of green and open spaces 

The habitat belt has along it´s entire length a contact 

to the urban landscape on both sides. On the inner 

side is the park of the administrative area and on the 

outer side is a park framed by the vocational training 

buildings and the habitat. 

Between buildings are well framed open spaces that 

contain outdoor activity and public life. 

green spaces 

open spaces 


12 cirhu

C.I.R.H.U 

At one end of the Administrative Area is located the 

Centre for International Research in Human Unity 

(CIRHU) complex, which itself is seen as the concentration 

of research done within Auroville (Cultural 

Zone), and relevant research done in the rest of the 

world (International Zone). Thus CIRHU, envisaged 

as the interface between Auroville and the world, is 

located at the convergence of the two above-mentioned 

zones. 

Legend: 

A1 

A2 

B 

C 

D 

82 

section ‘analysis and action’ 

section ‘research and experimantation’ 

Auroville international zone 

Auroville cultural zone 

international centres 


concept 

CIRHU presents itself as a centre of work of exchange 

and of permanent meetings. All the participants of 

the concerned countries and of the NGO’s will meet 

regularly an the occasion of different symposia or 

conferences and the annual plenary meetings. 

Program of the buildings: 

- conference room to seat 2500 persons 

- 2 multi-purpose conference rooms of 300 seats 

each 

- exhibition space 

- library and a centre of documentation 

- workshop room for the section “analysis and ac 

tion” 

- 4 rooms for the section “research and experimenta 

tion” with spaces reserved for the study centers 

and their laboratories. 

- coordinating space 

- cafeteria 

- hotel for 100 persons. 

- “press” centre 

- administrative quarter 

- technical services and parking 

19 

4 

6 7 

5 

8 

9 

12 

14 

14 

10 

15 

18 

11 

9 12 

16 

1. Arrival 10. Restaurant 

2. Information 11. Auditorium service 

3. Entrance 12. Lounge 

4. Panoramic promenade 13. Exhibition 

5. Hotel 14. Cafe 

6. Hall 15. Main cascade 

7. Lift 16. Small cascade 

8. Auditorium Entrance/cafe 17. Fountain 

9. Auditorium 2000 people 18. Panoramic Terrace 

1 Arrival 

2 Information 

3 Entrance 

10 Restaurant 

11 Auditorium service 

12 Lounge 


13 vocational training area

vocational training area 

The vocational training area is planned to be an holistic 

school cum industry where students and teachers 

would live and work together in an uplifting environ 

as in the earlier days of education in India. 

Assigned 6,7 hectares having research institutions 

including laboratories , it will not be a dead zone in 

the evenings as in the case of some cities where such 

zones are strictly unipurpose. The residences and 

other services and activities will give life to this part 

even after its actual active hours. 

86 


circulation 

underground parking 

delivery road during specific timings 

An underground vehicular access penetrates into the 

city centre from the crown road leading to a common 

basement parking for the vocational training area. 

3 radial service roads enters below the high rise buildings 

of the industrial zone of which one will continue 

onwards further into the city centre’s administrative 

area. 

The buildings of the vocational training area are internally 

served through a lively pedestrian ‘street’ with 

buildings on each side, and occasionally spilling on to 

open public spaces. 

In addition shaded and occasionally raised walkways 

and ramps provide vertical connection to the ‘streets’ 

on the upper levels. 

The vocational training area is well linked to the city’s 

green network so that all buildings are also provided 

direct access to pedestrian and bicyclists who prefer to 

use these routes. 

internal street connecting buildings and public spaces 

shaded and raised walkway 

connection to the cities green network 



1. Service buildings- There are distinct spaces ear 

marked for service buildings which will contain storage 

rooms, parking for bicycles, gardening and building 

maintenance tools, etc will be well located close 

to the streets. 

2. Large scale uses- Buildings for large scale spaces 

such as large workshops, auditoriums, lecture halls, 

cafeteria, recreational areas etc, are distributed along 

the internal ‘street’ that passes through the vocational 

training belt. They are connected well to large scale 

courtyards and the green areas. 

3. Small scale uses- Such buildings, will accommodate 

the quieter spaces needed for creative work such as 

libraries, design studios and individual research areas. 

On one side they will have contact to the street but on 

the other side they will overlook the large park. 

Residential spaces: Hostel accommodation will be provided 

for 80 students studying here as well 20 staff 

members will be integrated in the upper floors of the 

large scale buildings. 

1 

3 2 

88 



vocational training centre 

total plot area 67,082 sqm 

max. groundcoverage 45 

total building footprint 30,186 sqm 


footprint 

6,037 sqm 

(20 of total building footprint) 

useable area per floor 4,925 sqm 


pedestrian spaces 

green open spaces 

20,125 sqm 

(30 of plot area) 

16,770 sqm 

(25 of plot area) 

total useable area over 11,775 sqm 

an average of 3 floors 

large scale uses 


footprint 

10,565 sqm 




total useable area over 20,601 sqm 

an average of 3 floors 

small scale uses 

footprint 

13,583 sqm 




large scale use / common work spaces 

small scale use / individual work spaces 





recommended: 

1 - massing 

The buildings of the vocational training area should be 

readable as a compact mass rather than single-standing 

buildings. For this it is recommended to have a 

ground coverage of 45. The unbuilt spaces should 

form positive outdoor public spaces instead of being 

mere leftover spaces. They would rather appear to be 

punctures in this compact mass. 

2 - heights 

The buildings will have an average height of ground +2 

floors. This means that there will be a varying height 

from ground + 1 to ground + 3. The western part 

towards the CIRHU will tend to be low rise and low 

impact (here is less connection to the road) and areas 

on the east towards the high rise office buildings will 

tend to be higher. 


The buildings will touch the plot limits approximately 

50 of the plot boundary facing edges. The rest of the 

building edges maybe setback to form positive outdoor 

pedestrian or green spaces as the case may be. 

4 - bridges/walkways 

The buildings maybe interconnected in places through 

ramps, bridges and walkways linking them to the interior 

pedestrian streets. Walkways may sometimes be 

shaded as necessary or possible for encourage interbuilding 

circulation. 

section through vocational training centre 

(office block of industrial zone in the background) 

90 


concept of green and open spaces 

On the south side the area will be facing the park 

through its entire length. 

On the north side, the buildings would face the gardens 

enclosed on their other sides by the crown buildings 

and the offices of the industrial zone. 

Between the gardens and the park there will be a combination 

of paved outdoor spaces and gardens for serving 

the recreational needs of the vocational training 

area. 

green spaces 

open spaces 


14 offices of the industrial zone

“the lines of force“ office blocks 

The office buildings in the industrial zones are located 

in 4 oblong structures, originally named „The Lines Of 

Force“ in the Masterplan from 1968. These structures 

combine the outer zone with the city centre by bridging 

the crown road and partially penetrating the vocational 

training centre. 

In the following description the single structures are 

referred to as no. 1-4. All design statements concentrate 

on the part of the buildings which lie within the 

borders of the city centre. 

3 

2 

1 

4 

94 


circulation 

service roads on ground level 

pedestrian space on ground level 

Circulation: 3 radial service roads enter below the high 

rise office buildings of the industrial zone of which one 

will continue onwards further into the city centre’s administrative 

area. These roads will connect to collective 

parking areas and service areas that need access 

to a road. 

Internal pedestrian streets alongside the service roads 

will connect the public space of the office area to the 

public space of the vocational training area. Along these 

streets cafes, exhibition spaces and other recreational 

spaces will be provided to take care of the social 

needs of the users of both areas together. These will 

also be well linked to the green spaces enclosed within 

the office blocks, the crown and the vocational training 

buildings. 

In addition upper level connections will be provided 

from various levels of the office buildings to the roof 

terraces of the vocational training buildings through 

walkways and bridges in such a way that these terraces 

are also sometimes directly accessible from the 

street with in the vocational block. 

The office blocks are well linked to the city’s green 

network on the southern side so that all buildings are 

also provided direct access to pedestrian and bicyclists 

who prefer to use these routes. 

public facilities on ground level 

roof terraces linked to office buildings 1-3 



level -1 

Basements will accommodate storage rooms, parking, 

gardening and building maintenance rooms, etc. 

Residential accommodation 

Each office block will provide some residential units to 

accommodate 150 residents as follows: 

level ground 

Public spaces which provide services for the area as a 

whole and not only to the office block. For example: 

cafes, auditoriums, exhibition spaces, shops, restaurants 

etc. 

Block 1: 60 people 




4 

3 

2 

1 

level +1 

Common facilities and Reception Areas on the first 

floor: Office buildings will house their own large scale 

spaces such as auditoriums, lecture halls, seminar 

rooms, cafeteria, and recreational areas etc, on the 

first floor. They may spill on to terraces at the roof of 

the vocational buildings. 

level +2 

Offices spaces and floor level facilities: will be housed 

second floor onwards 

level -1 level ground level +1 level +2 

96 





1. Massing: 

The office buildings of the industrial zone within the 

city center will be readable as vertical blocks that are 

higher towards the city center and reduce progressively 

towards the crown continuing even further reducing 

as they radiate out into the industrial zone proper to 

progressively diminish and scatter into ground floor 

large scale spaces for manufacturing. These will tower 

over the much lower vocational training block and intersect 

through the crown building facilities. A ground 

coverage percentage of 75 is considered to permit 

the necessary light and ventilation in the upper levels. 

Hanging gardens, and terraces must intersperse the 

blocks providing due relief while maintaining the urban 

form. 

2. Heights: 

The 4 blocks contained within the city center area will 

have an average heights of 8,6,7, and 5 levels respectively 

spread over the entire ‘Line of Force’ blocks envisaged 

in the Industrial Area. At the highest points it is 

presently projected to have 12,11,9, and respectively 

8 for the 4 office blocks. As the city develops and better 

data is available of the required space for offices, 

the building heights must be reviewed and adjusted. 

3. Building Edges and Setbacks: 

Buildings will extend to touch the plot line mostly except 

for the relief provided by ventilation courtyards 

as per the architectural concept. 

sketches from Roger Anger 


total plot area: 21,739 sqm total plot area: 21,739 sqm 

plot area city centre: 6,716 sqm plot area city centre: 6,716 sqm 

plot area industrial zone:15,023 plot sqm area industrial zone:15,023 sqm 

(inc. crown road) (inc. crown road) 

total plot area: 18.971 sqm total plot area: 18.971 sqm 

plot area city centre: 4.511 sqm plot area city centre: 4.511 sqm 

plot area industrial zone:14.460 plot sqm area industrial zone:14.460 sqm 



ground floor 

ground floor 

top view 

top view 

1,121 sqm 

2,415 sqm 

3,893 sqm 

5,565 sqm 

6,716 sqm 

section 

647 sqm 

1,590 sqm 

2,836 sqm 

4,511 sqm 

section 


21,739 sqm 

plot area city centre: 6,716 sqm 

plot area industrial zone: 15,023 sqm 

(inc. crown road) 


18,971 sqm 




Office Block 1 

average 8 levels, 12 levels at the highest point 

1.121 sqm 

2.415 sqm 

3.893 sqm 

1.121 sqm 

5.565 sqm 

2.415 sqm 

6.716 sqm (x8) 

total plot area city centre 

service roads (18 of plot area) 

pedestrian spaces (52 of plot area) 

public service spaces (30 of plot area) 

maximum ground coverage 


3.893 sqm 

5.565 sqm 

6.716 sqm (x8) 

built up areas 

useable area ground floor (65% of 2,015) 

useable area per floor (65% of footprint) 

useable area over 7 upper floors of full foot print 

useable area on 8th floor (65% of 75% of 5,565 sqm) 




6,716 sqm 

1,208 sqm 

3,492 sqm 

2,015 sqm 

75 

5,037 sqm 

1,309 sqm 

4,925 sqm 

34,475 sqm 

2,711 sqm 

1,897 sqm 

1,177 sqm 

546 sqm 

647 sqm 

1.590 sqm 



647 sqm 

1.590 sqm 

2.836 sqm 2.836 sqm 

1.238 sqm 

4.511 sqm (x8) 4.511 sqm (x8) 

2.782 


4,511 sqm 


971 sqm 


2,255 sqm 


1,353 sqm 


75 


3,383 sqm 



879 sqm 


2,199 sqm 


15,393 sqm 

useable area on 8th floor (65% of 75% of 2,836 sqm) 1,382 sqm 

useable area on 9th floor (65% of 75% of 1,590 sqm) 775 sqm 

useable area on 10th floor (65% of 75% of 647 sqm) 315 sqm 

total useable area 

42,115 sqm 


18,744 sqm 

98 




plot area city centre: plot 1.400 area sqm city centre: 1.400 sqm 

plot area industrial zone:8.199 plot area industrial sqm zone:8.199 sqm 



ground floor 

ground floor 

top view 

top view 

1,238 sqm 

2,782 sqm 

4,714 sqm 

5,948 sqm 

section 

911 sqm 

1,400 sqm 

section 


plot area city centre: 

plot area industrial zone: 


23,143 sqm 

5,948 sqm 

17,194 sqm 


9,599 sqm 




1.238 sqm 


1.238 sqm 

2.782 sqm 

2.782 sqm 

4.714sqm 

4.714sqm 

5.948 sqm (x6) 

5.948 sqm (x6) 








5,948sqm 

1,070 sqm 

3,092 sqm 

1,784 sqm 

75 

4,461 sqm 

911 sqm 

1.400 sqm (x7) 

911 sqm 

1.400 sqm (x7) 






1,400sqm 

700 sqm 

700 sqm 








1,160 sqm 

2,899 sqm 

14,498 sqm 

2,298 sqm 

1,356 sqm 

603 sqm 




useable area ground floor (65% of 700) 



useable area on 7th floor (65% of 75% of 911 sqm) 

75 

1,050 sqm 

455 sqm 

682 sqm 

4,095 sqm 

444 sqm 


19,915 sqm 


4,994 sqm 


15 international zone

international zone 

102 


circulation and pavilion areas 

Circulation: a radial service road enters the international 

zone from the west and connects the crown road 

with the CIRHU. During a specific timing it is open for 

delivery vehicles, the other time it can be used as a 

pedestrian entrance to the CIRHU. 

A pedestrian spine connects all the buildings in the 

international zone. 

The international zone inside the crown is divided into 

an american (1) and an australian sector (2). 

service road pedestrian spine pavilions 

2 

1 


16 residential zone

esidential area 

This area will be a site of material and social research 

in sustainable and collective living. Building and infrastructure 

technologies aimed at cutting down energy 

consumption, both in the production of the building 

materials and of the building themselves, as well as 

wastewater recycling and rainwater catchment will 

be devised and tested. 

A population of 1250 residents is envisaged in the 

residential zone falling within the city centre area although 

residents will also be accommodated in other 

areas of the city centre in keeping with the mixed use 

concept of the city. 

The complete population will be clustered in 2 ‘Line 

of Force’ blocks that penetrate the city centre after 

crossing the crown. The residential blocks that are 

high towards the outer ring road, progressively reduce 

to meet the ground as they approach the Matrimandir 

Area. As such the terraces of these blocks 

overlook the Matrimandir and the surrounding lake, 

and in the innermost area, they are only ground floor 

high. 

The development policies will include: 

-Limiting living space per person to a maximum of 30 

sqm 

-A range of densities and parameters for architectural 

language and layout for site planning 

-The total built space to be not more than 45 of the 

total area leaving 55% for green spaces viz: parks, 

gardens 

-Use of eco-friendly practices in water and waste management 

recycling and re-use of resources 

-Design of local access roads primarily for pedestrian 

and cycle 

-Landscape around the built spaces to be inaccordance 

with the green parameters specially designated 

for the area 

106 


circulation 

A radial service road enters below the Block 1 and 

ends in a service area where parking and other facilities 

are located. 

Internally the units are served through a lively pedestrian 

‘street’ with buildings on each side, and occasionally 

spilling on to open public spaces. 

In addition shaded and occasionally raised walkways 

and ramps provide horizontal and vertical connection 

to the facilities of adjacent blocks and the ‘streets’ on 

the upper levels. 

The residential area is well linked to the city’s green 

network on all three sides except the side that is interrupted 

by the crown, so that all buildings are also 

provided direct access to pedestrian and bicyclists who 

prefer to use these routes. 

service road pedestrian space connection to green space 



2 

1 

legend 

common facilities 

residential units 

108 



Block 1 


service road(10 of plot area) 


green open spaces (20 of plot area) 





footprint (20 of total building footprint) 


total useable area over an average of 3 floors 





number of residents considering 30 sqm per 

person for singles and couples and 

22.5 for families of 4 

26,585 sqm 

2,658 sqm 

5,317 sqm 

5,317 sqm 

60 

15,951 sqm 

3,190 sqm 

2,073 sqm 

6,220 sqm 

12,760 sqm 

8,294 sqm 

24,882 sqm 

995 persons 

Block 2 



green open spaces (20 of plot area) 












number of residents considering 30 sqm per 

person for singles and couples and 

22.5 for families of 4 

9,082 sqm 

2,725 sqm 

1,817 sqm 

50 

4,541 sqm 

908 sqm 

590 sqm 

1,770 sqm 

3,632 sqm 

2,361 sqm 

7,082 sqm 

283 persons 


model study 

110 





recommended: 

1 - massing 

The residential buildings of the residential zone within 

the city center will be readable as unified blocks that 

are low towards the city center and increase progressively 

towards the crown continuing even further as 

they radiate out into the residential zone proper. 

2 - heights 

The 2 blocks contained within the city center area will 

have an average heights of 2 and 3 levels respectively. 

Toward the crown they will reach maximum heights of 

3 and 4 levels respectively. 


Buildings will extend to touch the plot line mostly except 

for the relief provided by ventilation courtyards 

as per the architectural concept. 


17 cultural zone

cultural zone 

The Cultural Area in the City Centre is planned for 93 

hectares, situated to the east Matrimandir Area and 

bounded north and south by Mahakali and Mahalakshmi 

parks. 

114 


circulation 

access roads 

toy train 

One short access road penetrates into the city centre 

from the crown road leading to a pavilion and waiting 

area for 300 children aged 4 to 7 years going to the 

15 kindergartens situated here. This is where they will 

be brought and thereafter there will be no vehicular 

traffic inside the kindergarten campus. Three other 

access roads enter the area of the faculties and stop 

at parking areas that restrict vehicular traffic in the 

campus, even if the vehicles are non polluting. A fifth 

short access road enters the schools in the B zone of 

the cultural zone within the crown. 

A toy train will bring the 300 children to the different 

kindergartens on the campus and will be a special 

slow moving, safe and fun transport exclusively for the 

children. Staff will use bicycles or park vehicles in the 

closest part of the crown area parking and enter directly 

through the green network. In the case of emergencies 

slow electric vehicles will be permitted along 

the pedestrian ways. 

A recreational pathway winds around the theme gardens 

of the kindergarten and meet with the lake promenade. 

Each of the distinct gardens will be thus linked 

and shared by all children. 

Pedestrian streets will closely interconnect the faculty 

buildings and the school buildings through the collective 

urban public spaces and gardens. 

The buildings of the cultural area are well linked to 

the city’s green network so that all buildings are also 

provided direct access to pedestrian and bicyclists who 

prefer to use these routes. 


pedestrian streets 



The subzones of the cultural zone in the context of the 

educational concept foreseen 

The cultural zone will focus on educational development 

of Auroville’s residents which will be distributed 

in the city according to the following concept. 

Creches: 2 to 4 years 

Creches will be distributed throughout the city adjacent 

to the residences and accommodate 20 children 

each. 1 creche will be provided per 1000 residents and 

40 creches will accordingly be spread in the residential 

zone. 

The habitat belt in the administrative area will have a 

crèche for 30 children. 

Kindergartens: 4 to 7 years 

30 of the kindergartens, with 35 children capacity 

each will be located in area A of the cultural zone falling 

within the city, and 70 spread over the residential 

zone. Thus there will be 15 kindergartens of 35 

children capacity within the city center area. 

E 

B 

C 

D 

Schools: 7 to 15 years 

All the schools will be located in area B of the cultural 

zone. A small part of B lies within the city center and 

the younger children will be accommodated 

F3 

F4 

Faculties: 15 or 17 to 25 years 

Faculties of further study and research will be grouped 

according to the following: 

1. Psychic 

2. Mental 

3. Vital 

4. Physical 

F1 

F2 

While they will each have their focus, they will be convey 

an integrated campus for higher education. 

Residences: Staff quarters will be accommodated and 

distributed through out the cultural zone. Zone A for 

kindergartens will house 20 people and the faculties 

will provide accommodation for 30 persons. 

A 

Subzones of Education in the City Center 

A: Kinder gartens 

B: Schools 

F: Faculties 

(F1- Psychic, F2 Mental, F3 Vital, F4 Physical) 

E: Vocational training 

116 



The cultural zone lying with in the city center occupies 93 hectares 

and is situated to the east and south of the Matrimandir amidst the 

Mahakali and Mahalakshmi parks. 


Sub Zone A 

plot area 


total buildings footprint 



Sub Zone Faculty 1 

plot area 






plot area 






plot area 





Sub Zone B 

plot area 





242,000 sqm 

125,000 sqm 

20 

25,000 sqm 

16,250 sqm 

32,500 sqm 

27,000 sqm 

20 

5,400 sqm 

3,510 sqm 

7,200 sqm 

44,000 sqm 

20 

8,800 sqm 

5,720 sqm 

11,440 sqm 

20,000 sqm 

10 

2,000 sqm 

1,300 sqm 

3,900 sqm 

26,000 sqm 

20 

5,200 sqm 

3,380 sqm 

6,760 sqm 


concept of open and green spaces 

Kindergarten in Sub Zone A: 

The kindergartens will be spread out generously along 

the lake edge. They will be contained within the parks 

of the city and the city’s green network will therefore 

directly reach each building from all sides. 

Each kindergarten will be situated with a theme garden 

so that children can recognise the identity of each 

building and its distinct garden. These gardens are a 

very important component of this zone, in order to 

hold together the widespread buildings in a unified 

campus. The scale of the garden will keep always the 

scale of the child in mind and there will be street furniture 

and trees to their scale throughout. 

The themes explored will be rich in stimulating sensory 

perceptions while being simultaneously educational. 

The themes will be for example: Garden of Smell, 

focussing on fragrances of distinct plants, Garden of 

Touch: focussing on textures of plants and pavings, 

Garden of Food with edible plants, Garden of Medicinal 

Plants, Garden of Water and Water plants, Garden of 

Sounds with installations and different fountains etc. 

F2 

F3 

Faculties in Sub Zone F: 

The faculties will be surrounded by the green network 

on all three sides with the crown on the east side. The 

children will be able therefore to access all buildings 

safely through the green network either on foot or bicycles. 

Structured gardens between buildings will hold 

together the campus. 

F1 

A 

118 





1. Massing: The buildings of the cultural area are 

stand alone buildings situated in structured gardens 

so that they appear to have the feeling of very low 

density, particularly the buildings of the kinder garten. 

The structured gardens maintain the unity and connection 

to other buildings on the campus. 

2. Heights: Buildings will have an average height 

of Ground +1 floors. This means that there will be a 

varying height from ground only to ground + 1om the 

kindergarten area to ground + 2 in the area of faculties 

and schools towards the crown. 


eferences and project team

18 references

sources 

Auroville Masterplan 

Project proposal by Roger Anger, 1968 

Auroville Universal Township Masterplan: Perspective 

2025 

Jointly prepared by Auroville Foundation and Town and 

Country Planning Organisation, Government of India, 

Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, 

2001(approved by HRD Ministry on 12.04.2001) 

Guidelines for Integrated Urban and Rural Lanscaping 

in Auroville 

Helge Jung, May 2001 

Auroville Mobility Concept 

Planungsbüro Billinger, August 2001 

Auroville Universal Township Masterplan 2004: Directions 

for Growth 

Project proposal part of “Auroville Innovative Urban 

Management” project No. IND-015 of the Asia Urbs 

project of the European Commission, 2003 

Prefeasibility study on Water Supply, Storm Water Management 

for the City of Auroville 

Study by Harald Kraft, Feb 2003 

C.I.R.H.U. 

Auroville’s Future, 2003 

Auroville City Center 

Proposal by Anupama Kundoo, February 2004 

Auroville City Center 

Proposal by Auroville’s Future, 2005 

Auroville Mobility 

Auroville’s Future, February 2005 

Administrative Area, Auroville 

Project proposal by Anupama Kundoo, 01.02.2006 

Auroville Townhall 

Project proposal by Anupama Kundoo, 15.02.2007 

122 


project team 

Project Proposal by: Anupama Kundoo, Architect 

Petite Ferme, Auroville 605101, India 

Hufeland Str. 33, 10407 Berlin, Germany 

Project Team: 

Anne Pind 

Isabel Martinez Abascal 

Josephine Hansen 

Martin Schliefer 

Submitted on: 25.08.07

Proposal for Auroville City Center. Anupama Kundoo architects. 2007

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