About 2 hours from my city of Madras (India), lies the Utopian settlement of Auroville, which was created in 1968 by Mirra Alfalfa ("The Mother") and architect Roger Anger.According to Alfassa, "Auroville is meant 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 realize human unity."
She created a 4 point system where, the main mantra was that Auroville is an independent township where it belongs to no one. A spiritual place which encouraged education, research and peace.
The master plan of the township was similar to Le Corbusier's Utopian City.....
SOURCE : http://www.auroville.org/system/image_attachments/images/000/007/993/original/city_diagram.gif?1407370244
I think, because of the fact that it was like a spiritual, gypsy settlement, peace was the main mantra with the symbolic Matrimandir at the center. A place where people from all over the world come to learn and settle down. Communities are divided with English, Tamil, Sanskrit, French names.
I wonder why they wanted to differentiate based on language, when they emphasize a lot on harmony and unity!
She created a 4 point system where, the main mantra was that Auroville is an independent township where it belongs to no one. A spiritual place which encouraged education, research and peace.
SOURCE : http://www.auroville.info/ACUR/masterplan/images/mother.jpg
The master plan of the township was similar to Le Corbusier's Utopian City.....
SOURCE : http://www.auroville.org/system/image_attachments/images/000/007/993/original/city_diagram.gif?1407370244
I think, because of the fact that it was like a spiritual, gypsy settlement, peace was the main mantra with the symbolic Matrimandir at the center. A place where people from all over the world come to learn and settle down. Communities are divided with English, Tamil, Sanskrit, French names.
I wonder why they wanted to differentiate based on language, when they emphasize a lot on harmony and unity!
THE MATRIMANDIR
Being the peace symbolism of the town, the architecture is a superb gold blob that brings out so many emotions in the viewer. The scale of the ball is huge, and can be seen from anywhere in the town.
SOURCE : http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Matrimandir.JPG
SOURCE : http://www.auroville.org/system/image_attachments/images/000/000/284/original/MM-crystal_15.jpg?1401698288
The space looks like something out of a greek movie, with the huge white pillars and the central importance. Something like an altar ? But looking at this image, we can imagine how peaceful it is for meditation.
SOURCE : http://www.auroville.org/system/image_attachments/images/000/008/076/original/Residential_Zone.jpg?1406304928
This is the residential zone, and as you can see it is similar to all other Indian architecture all over.
SOURCE : http://www.archive.auroville.org/thecity/architecture/images/raman5.jpg
Industrial zone where the people where allowed to start any business but with the discussion involving everyone.
SOURCE : http://www.auroville.org/system/image_attachments/images/000/005/575/original/colage.jpg?1401708538
Educational zone where all culture comes together to learn.
Instead of coins and currency, the people use a form of card which is connected to their central account. kitchen is a common mess where all the food are cooked healthily using solar panel generated heat.
Many architecture workshops are conducted there, due to its specialty of earth construction. Sustainable living at its best!
SOURCE : http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZmXTnIpdc4o/TElSaAb595I/AAAAAAAAAAc/Vo4hPmBvdt0/s1600/Aurobrindavan+Jurgen's+03+CSEB.jpg
SOURCE : http://www.earth-auroville.com/maintenance/uploaded_pics/03-earth.institute-training.jpg
This was an experimental settlement that was designed to house 50,000 people, but have only 2,300 people living there now. As the kids grow up, they migrate to their respective hometowns abroad for better opportunities, I assume. I think, that this settlement is a moderate success, at the same time a failure due to its location. No matter how much spiritual you are, you can only live like this in your retirement age or old age. The youth probably leave, to explore life outside the holistic living of this community. And maybe, when they are ready to relax and retire, they will come back.
No comments:
Post a Comment