RAS reminds us that It is time to select a new L’avenir / Town Development Council team. They are asking all of us to read the draft and take this opportunity to give our constructive feedback. We have two weeks (till 31st May 2012) to submit feedback by email to raservice@auroville.org.in with a copy to studygroup@auroville.org.in. Mr. Doshi is coming to visit Auroville from 28th to 30th of May, and he expressed his desire to meet the community of Auroville at large in order to discuss how to proceed with the planning work in Auroville. Read more

Present team of L'Avenir d'Auroville/TDC shared yesterday at SAWCHU with the community detailed report on their work for the last two years. As the planning of the city is very complex and structured from different aspects of it, each member was focused on that particular part. After the review was an opening question/answer sharing part of the meeting, which brought on the surface many issues. The mandate of present team is about to end, but common observation of the community is that at least part of it should stay on the job. Read more

Their over two months long volunteership at the Auroville Radio is about to end. In the conversation we find what triggered them to choose the Radio to contribute to the city. For Maria, an architect and artist, is the good place to connect all the ideas, all the facts, it is the right place to communicate to the entire world, and for the time being the only archive of most of the things that happen with accessibility to all. To Guiseppe, experimental anthropologist, radio is a good point where the wind come and stay together in peace Read more

Water for Auroville, an urgent issue! by Gilles Boulicot was at Cinema Paradiso. It emerged that there is more than one way to solve the problem of scarcity of water in the Auroville land and around it. To face this problem it is important to use multi-sourcing. There are many ways to improve today’s situation. First of all the relationship with neighbouring towns is a necessity for the hydrogeological environment. There is only one for the entire region. Today at 3 pm in Citadine is a meeting to form a group of people to manage about it. Read more

Starting Fri. 6th, Auroville hosts a 3-day festival celebrating Kabir... along with the live performances, Cinema Paradiso will show 4 films about Kabir, exploring his philosopy, poetry and songs, all with English sub-titles. Auroville Architects Monograph Series first release on architect Poppo Pingel, by Mona Doctor-Pingel 7 April, 9:15 at Town Hall Conference Room. Dehashakti (physical education, sports of various kinds for Auroville students) is minus funds for award t-shirts; support them by contributing to Dehashakti Sports acc. 102264. Read more

The exhibition Resonance by Michel Nicolet is open for other four Sundays at Petite Ferme, Auroville. The sculptor Michel Nicolet is showing us a remarkable set of objects. One could say that his presentation consists of three parts: his words, his drawings and his sculpture. The drawings, being two dimensional, appear to be a study towards a special kind of three dimensionality. In the interview (in French) Michel tells us about his life paths and connections, which draw him to Auroville and, through cymatics, to this exhibition. Read more

From L'Avenir d'Auroville Rolf talks on future development of the city, which is currently in chaos, especially regarding utilities infrastructure set up of the past. After the cyclone came a strong call from the community to explore underground utilities supply. And in general energy has accumulated to the point where we can start seriously thinking of overall infrastructure distribution. Next month we will get another electrical high tension cable to interconnect different transformers in order to achieve more regular supply of electricity. Read more

On February 28th, 2011, the work began for a new Matrimandir exhibit at the Visitor's Center. One year later, on the 44th birthday of Auroville's beginning, the exhibit opened at 9:30 a.m. following a concentration and consecration of the space. The exhibit, which was partially created with earth from the Matrimandir Gardens, was envisioned to be more a more spatial, visceral, and visual venue than the old exhibit. The creation was a smooth and quiet process, and was realized just in time for the one year deadline. Read more

The latest housing project at the International House was just recently completed, a 4 level structure solely devoted to dormitory style living. Made mostly out of recycled materials and readily available resources, the new guest house features 3 levels of single or double rooms, 2 bathrooms equipped with composting toilets, and a communal meeting space on the top level. Manu, the chief architect of the project, spoke of the necessity for a new structure, the planning process, and how the new guest house is holding up today. Read more

In January 2012, we spoke to Cristo of the l'Avenir d'Auroville about the work of the planning office with regards to the greenbelt masterplan and the recent cyclone. Cristo tells us the story of the development of the masterplan and also his own involvement in the project. We learn the aims, challenges, learnings, the laws and regulations of l'Avenir. There is much to be learnt here about the complexities involved in development of the 'land-use' plan and building standards, especially with regards to natural calamities like cyclones.

Martin Mosko is a briefly visiting landscape architect, monk and author, currently participating in the Matri Mandir Garden Design Team. At his presentation on 22 Feb 2012 at Town Hall, Martin explored the underlying principles reflected in Japanese Garden Styles that express the essence of harmony and contemplative mind. He presented images of some spell-binding gardens that he has worked on and showed how gardens can be a manifestation of and also an inspiration for balance and harmony of the mind. Read more

At Unity Pavilion in International Zone on 29th will be official inauguration of main hall, and Jaya shared with us the happy news, and the Bulgarian Pavilion will share with the community on htat day a Bulgarian 'Martenitsa' workshop with Antonia Duende which celebrates eagerly an ancient ritual, Baba Marta, exchanging martenitsa as a symbol of sympathy and friendship, ... In todays' news we also feature short excerpt of interview with Bridget on updates from L'Avenir d'Auroville, and full interview will be published later on. Read more

I stopped by to speak with Avikal, an architect under Manu's direction at the International House, about what he calls the "Ladder House." The structure, which is made of bamboo ladders, rope, and Tetrapack sheets, is a mobile work and living space. At two and a half levels, the structure contains an office, 2 living areas, and a composting toilet on the first level. On the upper levels there are 8 bunk beds for in-house living; and best of all, the entire structure can be partially deconstructed and moved for on-site working conditions. Read more

Although connections with Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building, Construction and City development(EiABC) were established years before the Auroville International meeting in Addis Ababa this October, the interest from the side of the students was no lesser - opposite, they've followed carefully all the presentations ( in this recording we can hear Margarita , Joss and Shivaya ones) and actively participated in interactions afterward. Both - Melake Selam and Brook Teklehaimanot, who were in Auroville already, shared their knowledge Read more

On one of the lasts talks Jaya, Shivaya, Deepti, Julian Lines, Brook Teklehaimanot talked on projects for and within the international Zone. Jaya and Deepti started with general overview , and touched CIRHU (Center for International Research in Human Unity) which should be a hub and concentration spot for people to learn and grow through experiences, it should be center for all human unity... Shivaya and Julian talked about the Peace Table, made by George Nakashima. Shivaya continued with Unity Pavilion, Brook talked about Africa House. Read more

Mr. Melake Selam visited Auroville in 2008, joined Satprem at Earth Institute to learn and expand the knowledge on earthen construction in order to use this technology on his home ground - Ethiopia. Leading motto that we, humans should care about our planet and protect environment and put in use sustainability was appealing to him. All that he has been learn he put into practice, and shared the knowledge with his students. At the Institute of Architecture we saw built examples - a Sudu house (nice example of basic family house) and a vault. Read more

Successful interactions between Ethiopian students from Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building, Construction and City Development (EiABC) with Aurovillians during the AVI meeting lead also to an interesting interview with Brook Teklehaimanot, who holds the Chair of Architecture and Design, and is the author of the model of the Africa House - the Pavilion of African Culture. As he told us one doesn't really plan or draw a city, city belong to the community and plans in reality change. More important is what happen with the built spaces. Read more

Amongst presentation to Ethiopian public within AVI meeting in Addis Abbaba Cristo Mabilat touched in his presentation the work of The Auroville Earth Institute, funded by an architect Satprem, who is trying to revive the technology of construction with earth. The concept goes in line with the development and sustainability as the key of the progress. The Auroville Earth Institute is today the representative for Asia of the UNESCO Chair "Earthen Architecture, Constructive Cultures and Sustainable Development". Read more

On our regular update from L'Avenir d'Auroville or Town Development Council Renu shared some points on administrative process of proposed projects, and as she says in Auroville everything depend very much on the capacity and energy of the person in charge of the project. And TDC should be there just to assist the project with the use of the footprint of the galaxy loosely while looking at the ground reality, and that way keep the dynamism of the galaxy without being to attached to the map. Water Task Team will be soon ready to present plans.

Auroville still has lot to learn about important issues like housing. Practicing diversity in unity is not easy but as Renu noted in the interview, one of the thing common to us all is that each one of us is attached to the development of Auroville. Common agreement has to come partially from people being sensitized and understanding as to why the land is used and why is there a certain density. And maybe by all of us actively searching for solutions will bear more fruits than criticizing.