VIKAS VIKA S COMMUNITY COMMUNITY IN AUROVILL AUROVILLE E TOWARDS A HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT
A CASE CA SE STUDY SATPREM MAINI
Au Auros roshilp ilpam, Aurov roville ille 605 101, TN IND INDIA Email: ail: earth-insti earth-institute tute @auroville. auroville.org.i org.in n
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VIKAS VIKA S COMMUNITY COMMUNITY IN AUROVILLE TOWARDS A HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT A CASE CA SE STUDY
Au Autho thor : A. A. Satprem
Au Aurov roville ille – June 2000 Revised November 2004 67 pages AUROVILL E EARTH INSTITUTE
Ref.: CS. 03
Humanity as a whole No rights reserved! All Al l p arts art s o f thi t hi s pub p ublili cat io n may m ay b e repro rep ro duced du ced without the written permission o f the author. author. Credit Credit sho uld be given to the Aurovill e Earth Earth Institut e. Feel Feel free to disseminate this information anywhere! anywhere!
VIKAS VIKA S COMMUNITY COMMUNITY IN AUROVILLE TOWARDS A HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT A CASE CA SE STUDY
Au Autho thor : A. A. Satprem
Au Aurov roville ille – June 2000 Revised November 2004 67 pages AUROVILL E EARTH INSTITUTE
Ref.: CS. 03
Humanity as a whole No rights reserved! All Al l p arts art s o f thi t hi s pub p ublili cat io n may m ay b e repro rep ro duced du ced without the written permission o f the author. author. Credit Credit sho uld be given to the Aurovill e Earth Earth Institut e. Feel Feel free to disseminate this information anywhere! anywhere!
TABLE TAB LE OF CONTENTS Towards a new community The spirit of Vikas A holis listic tic approa roach Sri Aurobindo’s symbol generating the plans Building with earth from foundations to roof Unique features of the third building Legaum Houses Biological waste water treatment by lagonning Land conservation and rainwater harvesting
1 2 3 6 7 8 10 11 13
PHOTOS
15
PLANS Initial planning layout Site layout – first phase Elevations 23 apartments Collective kitchen for 50 people Complex of reservoirs Percolation system – Kitchen side Percolation system – Third building Lagonning waste water treatment Four floors of the third building Section of the third building Foundation section Section of vault & dome / ventilation Section of sun shade / ventilation Legaum moveable houses Legaum cost effective houses
27 28 29 30 31 33 35 36 38 39 43 44 45 46 47 50
ANNEXES 1. Prosperity Vikas 2. Vikas, expansion, progress… 3. Use of the residences 4. Answer to your questions 5. Organisation of life 6. Financial contribution 7. Habitat for the future 8. Maintenance guidelines 9. Vikas experiment or the failed attempt towards a spiritual, fraternal, sustainable and Eco-friendly life.
53 54 55 56 57 59 60 61 63 66
TOWARDS A NEW COMMUNITY Vikas community is located in Auroville, Tamil Nadu. Auroville, the city of dawn, is an international city under construction in South India. One of the aims of Auroville is to harmonise material and spiritual researches for a living embodiment of an actual human unity. Mirra Alfassa, the Mother, who together with Sri Aurobindo, worked for nearly a century for the evolution of humanity, founded Auroville in 1968. The Sanskrit word Vikas means development – expansion, progress. This name was given to this project because it was supposed to be a pilot project, on a material level, for Auroville and elsewhere while using Eco friendly and sustainable means. On a more subtle level, Vikas was supposed to be a spiritual community aiming at the expansion of consciousness, from individual to collective consciousness. It was supposed to give the individuals opportunity to find their own spiritual and material space and to grow from within so as to create opportunities for a collective consciousness. The aspiration of a few friends, who were following Sri Aurobindo’ s integral yoga, led them to conceive of a community where fraternal relations would prevail and where shared spiritual aspirations would allow the manifestation of a collective realisation. These friends met regularly for months to establish and express the bases of this community. The result of this exercise was the elaboration of a kind of Charter – Vikas Spirit – that everybody agreed on and that everybody new, wanting to join the project, would agree on. For the manifestation of such a project, it was obvious for them that only ecological means should be implemented and alternative ways tried. They aspired to approach life in a holistic way, from the most material to the most spiritual. Their aspiration to a more fraternal life led them to imagine sharing their financial resources for building the community. This spirit and these aims were somehow shared by most of the friends who participated in the project‘ s elaboration, but its founder had always been the one inspiring and expressing the main directions. The community started with 5-6 people. After few months it grew a bit and for a few years it stayed at a dozen members. Today about 30 people live there and soon about 8 people will move into the last development. Over the years, people changed, came and went, and the founder of Vikas had to assume a leadership, which was not really in the initial spirit of sharing and collective realisation. His presence in the community could maintain this spirit and assume certain coherence to the whole. Despite his sustained endeavour, the spirit slowly faded away and finally disappeared when he had to leave the place. He left it after five years of constant endeavour, because he did not feel like leading a place anymore, which had meant to be a shared and collective realisation… but failed to become so. In less than two years after his departure, fraternal relations and a collective manifestation have been replaced by common selfishness and egoism. Vikas could have been a place where human beings became what they are: brothers and sisters, manifesting a concrete Human Unity. The spirit of Vikas worked only in the early days… Till the day when common human nature took over… And the dream vanished! But, a Divine Grace may one day bring back the project’s initial Spirit of a spiritual, fraternal, sustainable and eco friendly life!
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THE SPIRIT OF VIKAS A few friends elaborated this charter, which was written in October 1991: The Sanskrit word “Vikas” means expansion, progress… Vikas is the harmonious development of a community open to Auroville City and to the world.
“Auroville is the attempt towards collective realisation”. The Mother, Ju ne 1968
“As the free development of the individual fromwithin is the best condition for the growth and perfection of the community, so the free development of the community or nation from within is the best condition for the growth and perfection of mankind”. Sri Aurobindo
Vikas aims to realize the ideal of Sri Aurobindo and materialize the vision of the Mother, through a collective way of life. Through Vikas we wish to help build Auroville and live and work according to the spirit of its charter with emphasis on this point of the Auroville Charter: “To be the willing servitor of the Divine Consciousness”.
The spirit of Vikas is expressed in the following points: Vikas is a place for collective life where each individual can grow harmoniously and enrich the collectivity through their individuality. In this way, we shall have an opportunity to materialize our aspiration for Truth. Resources will be shared. Every one will sincerely give what he can, either money or work, so that everyone gets a roof, not according to his financial means, but according to his real needs. Therefore, in order to live in Vikas, we must leave aside our habits and requirements for comfort, our sense of personal possession so as to concentrate on the essentials. Vikas is a collective project and its realisation asks for the participation of all those who want to live there. Those who are building and living there must consider everything an offering to the Divine. To give the best of themselves, and participate financially in all sincerity, without thinking about holding back or later recuperating what has been given. Vikas will be an open place, expansion being indispensable to its blossoming. While growing, Vikas will continuously search for a harmonious development, which will give force and energy to the realisation of Auroville. Vikas is also: A place of meeting where Aurovilians, newcomers and visitors can live together and mutually enrich each other through their diversity. A place for collective life, where there is an attempt to introduce a new internal economic system, without monetary exchange, based on mutual confidence and sincerity. An opportunity for collective work, where all Aurovilians, whether they wish to live in Vikas or not, can participate in the project. A place of harmonious collective life, using appropriate technologies and alternative energies.
“I invite you to the great adventure, and in this adventure you are not to repeat spiritually what others have done before us, because our adventure begins from beyond that stage. We are for a new creation, entirely new, carrying in it all the unforeseen, all risks, all hazards – a true adventure of which the goal is sure victory, but of which the way is unknown and has to be traced out step by step in the unexplored. It is something that has never been in the present Universe and will never be in the same manner. If that interests you, well … embark. What will happen tomorrow, I do not know. You must leave behind whatever has been built up and then march on into the unknown. Come what may”. The Mother, 10.7.1957 2
A HOLISTIC APPROACH This spirit existed before any physical implementation. It was related to Sri Aurobindo integral Yoga and Auroville’s ideal. Apart from the specific spirituality, the creation of the community aimed to live a certain ecological and sustainable life style, and to build the project together while sharing financial resources. Individual apartments, a few individual houses and common facilities were foreseen on a material level. The implementation of the project was based on appropriate architectural design, on which people collaborated with the architect. The exclusive use of environmentally sound materials, appropriate building technologies, renewable energy sources and biological wastewater treatment was the basis of the material implementation. An alternative funding system was set up. Its principle was that people would give to a common fund whatever they had for building their apartment. This common fund would be used to build for every one. But the finished product that one would get at the end would not be related to the financial participation that one initially gave. The allocated flat was given according to the needs expressed by people. In this way, those who had more means could pay for those who had less. The experiment of Vikas found its roots in Auroville’s ideals. Nonetheless, its material developments could be implemented elsewhere in the worl d! INITIAL PLANNING A long-term development was planned in order to fulfil the spirit and aims of Vikas. The initial planning was projected for a maximum of 500 people, which seemed to be the maximum number that could allow a more complete and fraternal life and exchange to happen. The following common facilities were projected from the beginning: Community kitchen and laundry for 500 people Library and music room Crèche, kindergarten and school Sports ground Multipurpose hall, specially for cultural activities Rooms for physical exercises Various workshops and facilities for personal development Maintenance workshops Park and outside spaces of various qualities and scale Etc. The implementation of such a scale was projected in various phases, which would allow a progressive urbanization. The first phase, which seemed out of reach, was planned for 50 people: 23 apartments with a collective kitchen.
APPROPRIATE ARCHITECTURE DESIGN Energy intelligent building Solar panels for 12 V DC current No fan Natural ventilation and sun protection Low consumption bulbs (6 and 9 W) No air conditioner Sun protection with sunshades and a proper orientation of the building. Natural cross ventilation with a proper orientation of the building, to catch the summer wind. The ventilation is improved by an increase of wind velocity through pier walls. Solar chimney to create a natural draft, which refreshes the building especially at night. The sun heats a heavy black slab laid on the chimney top: this creates a natural draft due to the temperature difference in the chimney. Basement floor (in some parts) to supply soil for building: the aim being that each building must be self-sufficient in its soil need for construction! This basement floor (only 1.2 m underground) has a lot of daylight and is cooler in summer.
ALTERNATIVE FUNDING AND CONSTRUCTION PROCESS Beyond this alternative material implementation, another way to fund the project and to build it was set up. A common fund – the building fund – was created from the beginning, to allow the building of common facilities. Later people shared resources: the solidarity fund was created. Those who could give more than what they needed paid for those who had not enough means. Every one was giving what he could offer, and the apartment that he received at the end was not according to the amount given at the beginning. The allocated flat was given according to the needs that people expressed. People, who were willing, participated in the construction. Some worked on site, others did the purchasing, accounting or supervising, etc…but this rapidly became more an idea than reality! This spirit vanished early on, as people were too lazy to help and preferred to pay only for their own things!
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Until now the development of Vikas has been exclusively based on the use of appropriate building technologies (earth and ferrocement), renewable energies (solar and wind) and ecological water management (water shed harvesting and biological waste water treatment), as is described below.
ENVIRONMENTALY SOUND MATERIALS Compressed earth b locks (CEB) of various qualities The production of CEB consumes 5 to 15 times less energy than fired bricks. The pollution emission (CO2) is 2.4 to 7.8 times less than fired bricks. CEB can be produced locally by semi-skilled labour, after a short training. Ferrocement pieces in different parts of t he building Ferrocement is a thin wall of 12 or 25mm of cement sand mortar reinforced with light Tor steel rods and mesh. It uses much less cement and steel than Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC). Ferrocement can be produced locally by semi-skilled labour, after a short training. APPROPRIATE BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES Earth, as building material, from foundations to r oof Stabilised rammed earth foundations with 5 % cement Plinths and walls in compressed earth blocks stabilised with 5 % cement Some walls with stabilised rammed earth with 5% cement Composite beams and lintels made of U shape compressed earth blocks and reinforced concrete Sills and some lintels with plain earth concrete (Soil, sand, gravel and cement) Composite columns made of round compressed earth blocks and reinforced concrete Vaults and domes for floors and roof with 5 % cement stabilised compressed earth blocks Paints and plasters with stabilised earth Floorings with CEB tiles, 2.5cm thick with 5 % cement Ferrocement technology for various com ponents Channels of 25mm thickness for some floors and roofs Lost shuttering of 12mm thickness, for the rare reinforced concrete used Doors, shelves of 12mm thickness and various components Waterproof plasters for the water tanks and ponds Sparing use of concrete, glass, steel, etc. RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES Solar water heater, only for the collective kitchen Photovoltaic panels for the electricity (12 V. DC) Two surface solar pumps for the gardens One submersible solar pump at 35 m depth (Installed in the well with windmill pump) Windmill, with a pump at 32 m depth (Installed in the well with solar pump) This alternative pumping is planned for 130 people, who will carefully use the water. WATER MANAGEMENT Rain water harvesting with a particular landscaping, which aims at a zero run off during the monsoon. Water harvesting from the overflow of the windmill and the solar pump into a half underground reservoir. It supplies water for the gardens. Biological wastewater treatment (lagooning system): a hybrid system of anaerobic and aerobic digestion, where the sun and floating aquatic plants (water hyacinths) do the treatment. After 8 days, the treated water can be used for gardening (not for drinking). EARTH MANAGEMENT For the first development, the soil for building was extracted from the wastewater treatment pond and the garden tank (overflow from the windmill and solar pump). The 3rd building was designed with a basement floor. The excavated soil was used for building, and this allowed this building to be self-sufficient for its soil needs!
4
INITIAL PLANNING FOR 500 PEOPLE
VIKAS LAY-OUT FOR THE FIRST PHASE (1448 m² carp et area) 23 apartments, collective kitch en and toilets fo r 50 people 5
SRI AUROBINDO’S SYMBOL GENERATING THE PLANS SRI AUROBINDO’S SYMBOL
The descending triangle represents Sat-Chit-Ananda. The ascending triangle represents the aspiring answer from matter under the form of life, light and love. The junction of both - the central square - is the perfect manifestation having at its centre the Avatar of the Supreme - the lotus. The water - inside the square - represents the multiplicity, the creation. The Mother These words of the Mother could be expressed as follows: The descending triangle represents involution – the descent of Spirit into matter. The ascending triangle represents the evolution – the nature aspiring for the Divine. THE STUDY AND ITS INTEGRATION Sri Aurobindo’s symbol has always been represented with various proportions: from very flat triangles to very high ones. The symbol, whose proportions seemed the most harmonious, was inscribed in a regular octagon. The first step for the study was conducted in 1992 for the design of the apartments. The second one happened in 1994, and it was integrated into the design of the Legaum houses. The study of his symbol was focussed on finding a graphical method to draw both triangles and the central square. The Lotus and the water inside the square were left out of the study. The inscription of the symbol in the regular octagon was the starting point of the study. From it derived a method to draw the symbol with a compass. The combination of these circles resulted in an unfolding flower, like a blossoming lotus.
Harmonic proportions of the symbol
Grid of the plan modulated by the symbol
The symbol integrated in the apartment plan
The symbol integrated in the Legaumfacades 6
BUILDING WITH EARTH FROM FOUNDATIONS TO ROOF LESSON FROM THE PAST For millennia, man has developed the skill of using earth for building his living spaces. There is hardly any country or continent, which does not have numerous examples of earth construction. From the roof of the world in Tibet, or the Andes Mountains in Peru, to the shores of the Nile’s in Egypt or the fertile valleys of China, many are the examples of earth used as a building material. But one thing captures our attention, in the history of building with earth: Throughout the world and along the centuries, one is amazed by the balance and harmony of these buildings with the surrounding landscape and nature. With new developments (i.e. compressed earth blocks on a semi-industrial or large scale) one should not forget the risk of ecological disasters due to mismanagement of quarries and savage exploitation of resources. On the other hand, it is possible to create a new harmonious balance between nature and buildings, where they enrich and complete each other. DEVELOPMENTS IN VIKAS The Auroville Earth Institute, formerly known as the Auroville Building Centre/Earth Unit, built Vikas. It focused its R&D on the extensive use of earth as a building material. These developments were all implemented in Vikas. The first phase for 50 people happened in 3 steps: First development The collective kitchen was built first. The latter and the first block of four apartments were built with stabilised rammed earth foundations and compressed earth blocks. The floor and roof were done with ferrocement channels. These buildings were completed in October 1992, after 10-12 months work. The soil for building was extracted from the half underground reservoir and from the pond for wastewater treatment. At this stage, the soil dug from these excavations was sufficient to build.
Community kitchen for 50 people Second development The second block of six apartments also had foundations of stabilised rammed earth and walls either of rammed earth or compressed earth blocks. The floor was done with ferrocement channels and the roof was built with vaults and domes made of compressed earth blocks. This phase started early 1996 and was completed end of 1996. At this stage, there was still some soil left from the excavation of the wastewater treatment pond. But it was not enough to build the entire structure. The development of Vikas had no need for further excavations and the soil needed to be supplied from another source. Quarries are often savage and no control on the management of resources is possible. Therefore, in order not to participate in a savage exploitation of resources the concept of a basement floor was developed for the third phase.
Third and last development The third block of thirteen apartments was built on a basement floor with three floors above it. The basement also had apartments, and it was half underground so as to get enough light for the rooms. This construction site started early 1997 and was completed early 1999. The concept was that this building be self-sufficient for its soil needs. The soil was dug from the basement floor to produce compressed earth blocks for building the structure. Some individual houses – called Legaum – were built simultaneously with the third building. The original concept for them was that they be moveable houses. These ones came to be too costly and the concept evolved into a more cost effective one. 7
UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE THIRD BUILDING Earth was used, from the first developments of Vikas, in all parts of the buildings, from foundations to roof. The proper management of earth resources was always the first priority. The quarries where the soil was taken from were always planned first. This procedure allowed a perfect integration of the excavations with the buildings and landscape. Simultaneously to the construction of Vikas, the Auroville Earth Institute researched and developed many appropriate building technologies, which used stabilised earth. The first and second developments of the collective kitchen and 10 apartments on two floors could integrate the quarries as garden reservoir and wastewater treatment. The soil needs for these developments were already exceeding the volume of excavations and some soil had to be supplied from elsewhere. The soil requirement for the third building, which had four floors, was tremendous and it was not possible to integrate the earth excavation required with the project. This building was planned with a basement floor, which was half underground (1.20m below the original ground level). The volume of this basement floor was equivalent to the volume of soil, which was needed to produce the blocks and all the various works of the third building. Thus, the amount of s oil generated by the basement was enough to build 819 m2, carpet area, on 4 floo rs. To protect the basement from the overflow of rainwater a particular landscape was designed. The immediate surrounding has been shaped like a shallow crater to drain rainwater into a percolation pit (See p 14 for more details concerning this drainage and percolation system). This landscape design generated even more soil than needed. It was given to o ther projects, which could not impl ement the concept of a basement floo r. The third building used stabilized earth on four floors, from foundations to roof and it implemented the various appropriate building technologies (Earth and Ferrocement), which are mentioned in the “Holistic approach”. Some of these technologies were already implemented, on R&D level, for the first two buildings. They were all based on stabilised earth, with 5 % of cement by weight. The structure was entirely load bearing and the walls were 24cm thick from the plinth level to the parapet wall, which was 13.40m higher. Floors and roof used ferrocement channels for the service rooms (Bathrooms and kitchenette) and very flat vaults and domes for the living rooms. These vaults and domes were built with the “Free-spanning” technique (Without formwork). They were levelled flat with stone slabs, which provided a cavity, which was used for ventilation (See plan Ref. 17).
3rd building: 13 apartments on 4 floors (3 floors above a basement floor) 8
MAIN SPECIFICATIONS WORK FOUNDATIONS
TECHNIQUE Stabilised rammed earth
BASEMENT
AURAM plain blocks 240
PLINTH BEAM
RCC plinth beam cast in a block shuttering with AURAM blocks 240 – ½ size
BASEMENT WATERPROOFING
Walls: with bitumen paint on a stabilised earth plaster Floor: with a layer of pebbles
BASEMENT DRAIN
GALERIES FLOORING APARTMENTS FLOORING WALLS
Underground drainage, with a 3” slotted PVC pipe, which is sent to an underground percolation pit Surface drainage with a percolation pit AURAM tiles 240
The choice was left to people: CEB, terracotta or ceramic tiles AURAM plain blocks 240
RING BEAMS
SPRINGER BEAMS
Composite ring beam with AURAM U blocks 240 and RCC (only for the ferrocement channel floors) RCC beams for resting vaults and domes
LINTELS
COLUMNS
FLOORS AND ROOFS
Composite lintel, single height, with AURAM U blocks 240 and RCC Composite pillar with AURAM round hollow blocks 240 and RCC Flat vaults and domes with AURAM blocks 240, laid without support Precast ferrocement channels
PLASTERS
Stabilised earth plasters for some walls 9
DETAIL Trench foundation: 90 x 90 cm Soil-sand stabilised with 5 % cement Two courses with blocks stabilised with 5 % cement and laid with a cement stabilised earth-sand mortar 1: 6: 6 Course width: 49cm Blocks stabilised with 5 % cement Blocks laid on edge and filled with concrete 1: 2: 4 Beam size: 24 x 12.5cm (w x h) With 4 rods 8TS and 6 MS stirrups @ 25 cm c/c 1.5cm plaster applied on the block masonry. Cement stabilised earth-sand plaster 1: 4: 8 Bitumen paint with tar melted and diluted with kerosene, 2-3 mm thickness Slotted pipe laid on a layer of rammed clay (± 20cm high) One layer of pebbles and one layer of sand above the pipe (each ± 30cm high) Tiles, 2.5cm thick, stabilised with 5 % cement and laid on a cement-sand mortar 1: 4 + cement milk Tiles laid on a cement-sand mortar 1: 4 + cement milk Blocks size: 24 x 24 x 9cm Blocks stabilised with 5 % cement Blocks stabilised with 5 % cement filled with concrete 1: 2: 4 1: 2: 4 concrete cast in ferrocement lost shuttering (12mm thick) Beam size: 27 x 20cm (w x h) with 3 rods 8TS (front side), 2 rods 12 TS (Back side) and 8 TS stirrups @ 25cm c/c U Blocks stabilised with 5 % cement filled with concrete 1: 2: 4 Blocks stabilised with 5 % cement filled with concrete 1: 2: 4 stone chips + 3 rods 10TS and 6MS stirrups @ 30cm c/c Segmental vaults: 2.70m span, 50cm rise and 11.5cm thick. Cloister arch domes on squinches: 4.20m square, 50cm rise and 11.5 cm thick. 5 % cement stabilised blocks, laid with a cement stabilised earth-sand glue 1: 9: 3 Channels 2.5cm thick with cement-sand mortar 1: 2 1.5cm thick cement stabilised earth-sand plaster 1: 4: 8
LEGAUM HOUSES ORIGIN OF THE CONCEPT The initial concept was to build moveable houses. The need arose due to the housing shortage in Auroville. The international city of Auroville is under construction but does not yet have master plans. Therefore, allowing the building of anything anywhere could hinder major developments, which should happen later. In this way the concept of a moveable house was born, which can be built in a short time. It can stay in place until the time major development occurs. It could then be dismantled, without loss of materials, and rebuilt elsewhere! FROM MOVEABL E HOUSES TO COST EFFECTIVE HOUSES The first prototype was built in 1996 and it presented totally new features: foundations resting on the ground, floor with ferrocement channel and CEB hourdis, walls with interlocking hollow CEB and the roof with wooden shingles. The technical failure was the roof: The details and specifications were not well studied; the wood was too green and moved. Therefore it leaked and it was covered later on by coconut leaves. But the main disadvantage of the first prototype was its outrageous cost: 5,000 Rs./m2 carpet area, without electricity and water… A permanent house fully completed and with better finishes would have cost the same! The second prototype evolved into a lighter version. It was built in 1997 and it cost half the price of the first prototype: 2,500 Rs./m2 carpet area (without electricity and water). Another important aspect of the original concept was cost reduction. Cutting the cost of the 2nd prototype by half was already encouraging but still not satisfactory. The special features for move ability were too costly. Then, the Leg-Aum houses evolved to a concept of cost effectiveness, but rooted in the ground. Their cost came down in 1997 to 2,000 Rs./m 2-carpet area, with a water connection. Therefore the aims of the concept were fulfilled. But social acceptability remained one main problem. For most people a house is a life’s investment and a dream. It must fulfil the need of being rooted to a place and the sense of property, which is given by a house rooted in the ground. Therefore these moveable houses, as they had no foundation, were “unrooted” and did not fulfil this psychological need. More “rooted” houses were built by self-builders, who were really happy to build them and who are feeling at ease inside. HOUSES BUILT BY SELF BUILDERS The Auroville Earth Institute trained laymen to build such houses. This three-week training course dealt with the production of compressed earth blocks, the masonry with blocks for walls and building arches, vaults and domes. The architect gave basic plans and specifications and left people to manage everything alone. They finally developed the original concept, with additional alcoves, and six houses were built in a year time.
First moveable prototype
Second moveable prototype 10
BIOLOGICAL WASTE WATER TREATMENT BY LAGONNING PRINCIPLE OF THE METHOD It consists of two distinct phases: an anaerobic decantation-digestion, followed by a macrophyte water treatment and the progressive re-establishment of aerobic conditions. The anaerobic treatment takes place in a watertight pit called the “decanter-digester”, which is open at the top, and which gets covered by the accumulated floating matter. The macrophyte water treatment is covered with diverse species of floating aquatic plants. The first 2/3 of the watertight pit is fully covered and the plant covering in the last third is restricted to 20 % of the surface to promote more reoxygenation and photosynthesis. The aquatic plants were at the beginning water hyacinths and duckweeds. Mr Charbonnel – Professor at the University of Toulouse, France – introduced this method in Auroville. PARTICULAR A IM Along with an ecological approach for this biological wastewater treatment, the idea was to fulfil technical requirements with a sense of integration, harmonization with the buildings & surrounding nature. Therefore, buildings nearby invited the lagonning system. It tried to propose an agreeable place, where people can walk, sit and stay for a while, so as to enjoy a pleasant pond, which is treated as a lake. SPECIFICATIONS The whole system is foreseen for 30 people: the digester is calculated for 50 people and the treatment ponds are dimensioned for 30 people, as they can be extended for 20 more people. The treatment is done in 8 days and after that, the water can be used for gardening or irrigation. Digester Made with in situ ferrocement. Vol. = ±10m3 (3.5 m long x 1 m wide x 2.7 m deep) Nine treatment pon ds Made with in situ ferrocement. Total volume= ± 28m3. Area per pond= ± 4.5m2. Depth= 0.70m Harvesting poo l The waterproofing bottom is done with a layer of 10 cm of compacted clay. The latter is held in situ by a pavement of CEB (240, 5cm, 5% cement) without mortar. The side of the waterproofing is done with CEB (240 - ½ - 9 cm. – 5% Cement) in cement sand mortar (1:5) with a cement – lime stabilized soil sand plaster (1:1:1:4) The rainwater from the nearby building is harvested in the pool. An overflow ensures the water level in monsoon time. Note: clay has been chosen for its waterproofing properties, cheap cost, and as a natural and a bactericide material. Pit for water tank It is made with concrete rings 3’ with a direct connection to the pool, in order to build a 5 m3 water tank above it, as overhead garden water. DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED
The dimensions of the treatment system were calculated for 30 people and the digester for 50 people, but for long time, there were only 10 persons. Thus, there was not enough concentration of solid matter. Hence the crust above the digester did not form. After 4 or 5 months utilization, a layer of coconut dust and a little topsoil was spread on the digester surface so as to create a floating mattress where grass, papyrus and other plants could grow. For some time the first 2 treatment ponds did not have enough oxygen: fishes died and there was smell & mosquitoes… After analysis of the oxygen content and seeking advice, the oxygen content could be increased tenfold! The following corrections were done: Water hyacinths were removed: Less than suggested, so as to increase photosynthesis. Scraping the bottom of the ponds every 10 days, to remove dead frogs, fishes and plants, which consume oxygen. After some time, fish could live again and mosquitoes & smell disappeared. Water hyacinths were the strongest and grew well, but duckweed did not grow very well and died. The clay waterproofing worked well, but as the blocks, which are laid on top, have no mortar joints – thus not sealed, the seepage was above what would normally be expected. An extra layer of stabilized earth plaster would have been required to reduce the water seepage through clay. 11
Wastewater treatment system 12
LAND CONSERVATION AND RAINWATER HARVESTING TREE PLANTATION AND LANDSCAPING The development concept was a “green” one, where buildings would be integrated in vegetation and landscape of various densities. The initial planning foresaw buildings, which could play with the existing nature and built up areas, and create a rhythm with it. One corner of the land had already a few trees and it was decided to increase its density, so as to create a very shady park. With the construction of the collective kitchen more than 100 trees of indigenous species, and many more bushes and plants were planted. Existent nature had always been inviting for a building to come. However, the latter would integrate itself with the surrounding natural environment. PROTECTION AGAINST WATER EROSION Auroville is situated in a tropical climate, where monsoons violently erode a bare land. Only 200 years ago dry tropical evergreen forests existed in this area. But those were cut down and when the first pioneers arrived to Auroville in 1968 they found a bare plateau of eroded red soil instead of forests. For years they had only one occupation: to give life again to the land by planting trees and by blocking rainwater run off to the sea. This was done by systematic bunding to slow down or catch the water. They used a slogan: “Zero run-off!” Meaning that every cm² of land should percolate rainwater. This type of land conservation became very effective, but it was adapted to green works and not for developing a city. Therefore, the development of Vikas tried to integrate these principles into town planning. The typical bunds to retain rainwater were transformed into smooth landscape. Gentles slopes with shallow depressions collected rainwater and top edges, where the pedestrian paths were located, retained water. The lowest part was sometimes flooded and allowed the percolation. The top part was always accessible without paddling. They were as effective as the original developments but totally integrated in the landscape.
Typical bund on eroded land
Development in Vikas
LANDSCAPED PERCOLATION PITS A percolation pit is just a hole or a depression where rainwater can accumulate for sometime and allow percolation into the ground. The effectiveness of such a system depends on two parameters: the water catchment’s volume and the percolation area, which should be covered with grass and landscaped with bushes. For example, a deep hole with vertical walls will not be as effective as a shallow depression of identical volume because the vertical walls of the deep hole cannot be covered with vegetation. The percolation effectiveness is increased tremendously with vegetation. It is essential to cover the percolation system with grass and to plant bushes. Their roots drain rainwater much faster in the ground. The biological systems with microorganisms, which are present in humus, aerate the ground and increase also tremendously the percolation. This was shown by the first percolation system created for the park near the collective kitchen. The percolation system had just been shaped when a heavy summer storm occurred. No grass cover and landscaping had been done yet. The depression was flooded and rainwater took nearly a week to percolate through the topsoil, which had no humus. Once vegetation completed the system, the heaviest rainfall during monsoon would take one or two days to percolate.
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DRAINAGE AND PERCOLATION SYSTEM OF THE THIRD BUILDING This building was built on a basement floor and it was essential to protect it from any rainwater intrusion. Against the foundations was done a conventional drainage with a slotted PVC pipe and the collected water was sent into an underground percolation pit (± 10m3), which was filled with sand. This pit collected only the rainwater, which went underground, and it had no connection with the surface rainwater. The immediate surrounding of the building was shaped like a shallow crater to harvest rainwater. The latter was sent into a hole, which was shaped into a conical crater (± 73m3) with a few steps to access it. An extra hole (± 44m3) was added as a back up in case of very exceptional rainfall. Any overflow of the main percolation hole would go into the second hole, which was filled with sand. This system harvests rainwater, which falls on the building and the crater immediately around. The roof and the percolation system cover around 1200m². The system was protected by a strong bund all around to avoid any intrusion of rainwater from the adjacent land. An unusual and exceptional rainfall proved the effectiveness of the system. Auroville receives around 1250mm of rainfall per year: about 3/4 during the 2 months of the winter monsoon (Mid October to mid December) and about 1/4 during the summer monsoon (Around June). It never rains in between. This year saw something very unusual: a 402 mm rainfall over 5 days from the 23 rd to the 27th February 2000. The most intense rain was during the 26th February, mostly at night, with 198mm of rainfall. Then the rain slowed down and after 45 hours the water level in the percolation system went down by 20cm, that means around 48 m3 of percolation. The system collected a total of approximately 450m3 of rainfall in 5 days. One and a half day after the last drops everything had percolated and the system was empty.
Percolation system of the third building
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Four apartments of the first phase 15
Staircase and water tank tower of the third building
General view from the green street 16
Third building viewed from the green street
Third building viewed from the windmill 17
Third building viewed from the garden 18
Apartments of the third building 19
Outside activities 20
Working sometimes together
Team of ”Building Partners”
Block-making 21
Excavation for the basement of the third building
Ramming a stabilised earth foundation
Building a composite pillar (Round CEB - 24cm with RCC)
Pre-casting a composite beam (U CEB with RCC) 22
Ventilation of domes & vaults, and solar chimney
Starting a dome on squinches
Finishing a segmental vault 23
Legaum cost effective houses 24
Reservoirs, submersible solar pump and windmill
Waste water-treatment by lagonning 25
Percolation system in the park, near the kitchen
Percolation system (under completion) of the third building 26
PLANS
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ANNEXES
The following p apers were written at different dates, accordin g to the needs.
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ANNEX 1 PROSPERITY VIKAS January 1992 “Prosperity” was set up again among Vikas residents. It only worked from October ’92 to October 1993. Prosperity is a shared economic system, where individuals deposit their maintenance and/or donate funds to a common fund. This provides in return all basic needs of individuals. Prosperity is based upon sincerity. Every one gives according to his means or to what he feels right and he takes back, with moderation and reason, according to his needs. The residents contribute to the prosperity fund. Most of the participation is given to the “Maintenance Fund”. This account is used for all purchases from “Pour Tous” (the shopping centre of Auroville), the Bakery for the community kitchen and individuals needs. A smaller part of the participation is kept in the internal Prosperity account, which is used for purchases in Pondicherry: mainly for kitchen equipment and other individual needs. The followin g services are provid ed by “Prosperity” , for Vikas residents only: Food in the community kitchen Toiletries (soap, tooth paste, etc.) Household (cleaning equipment, bed sheets, candles, incense etc.) Medicines and health care Clothes (residents are invited to get them first from “Nandini” free store) Mail Maintenance of cycles What is not prov ided by Prosperity: Motor vehicle expenses Extras expenses, like restaurant, luxuries, etc. Gifts to friends We followed the advice of an ashramite friend: To set up a flexible system, where rules and regulations would be added only if needed, with sincerity as the golden rule and with the sole obligation to fill out a register whenever you take something!
“It is very difficult to find the borderland between a true need and a desire… And there, we really face a problem which compels an extraordinary sincerity (… ) For that you must observe yourself very, very attentively and if there is anything in you which produce something like a small intense vibration, then you may be sure that there lies a desire”. The Mother, 25.1.1951 54
ANNEX 2 VIKAS, Expansion, Progress… January 1993 Vikas could have been called “Consciousness”, because it should have been the expansion of consciousness, through a way of being, living and building towards this ultimate goal of Perfection and Transformation. It is the possibility for us to forget our sense of personal possession by using and taking care of dwellings and things, which are entrusted to us. It is a stage of development. It is a collective process where, Aurovilians and villagers together will build with their hands what Auroville will be: a Collective Realisation. It is not just a community but also a corner of Auroville where some beings have joined together to share and materialize their aspiration. It is not a construction project but a spirit, Auroville Spirit that some Aurovilians are materializing according to their understanding of the Mother, Sri Aurobindo and the Auroville Charter. Vikas is only a seed in the garden of Auroville, where we have to grow towards Transformation, towards the Divine, the Sole and Unique Goal!
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ANNEXE 3 USE OF THE RESIDENCES January 1993
“Auroville is the ideal place for those who want to know the joy and liberation of no longer having any personal possessions”. The Mother, 20.9.1969
Each residence used by an Aurovilian or newcomer belongs to Auroville – financial participation in Vikas project does not give any right to individual property. The use of a residence means to take care of it and to maintain it in its original state. It means also to use the solar electricity (1 or 2 lights at a time) and the water (house and gardens) as sparingly as possible. In case any resident becomes undesirable for the community (disharmony, no interest, etc.), he will be asked by the community to free the allocated flat and to move to another community. Then, part of his financial contribution will be reimbursed. (See for more details the note on “financial contribution”) Each residence must be made accessible to others duri ng any prolo nged absence of its tenant. This means the followin g:
During an absence of less than 1 week, an Aurovilian appointed by the tenant must take care of maintaining the apartment.
During an absence between 1 week and 3 months, the residence can be attributed to visiting friends of Auroville. (The Aurovilian tenant will be able to store his valuables in a safe place.)
During an absence, which is planned to last more than 3 months, an Aurovilian or a friend of Auroville can use the dwelling temporarily.
The tenant of the flat may bring in a caretaker to occupy his residence during his absence, only if the other residents accept the person.
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ANNEXE 4 ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS Apri l 1994 These questions were the most commonly ones asked by people interested by Vikas. Q.1: Can you summarize the spirit o f Vikas? The aim of Vikas is to follow Sri Aurobindo’s path and to materialize, step-by-step, Mother’s vision through a collective life and without any sense of personal possession. We want to build a place for collective living where Aurovilians and newcomers can materialize their aspiration and share with others a more conscious life in the spirit of the Auroville Charter.
“Auroville wants to be the first realization of human unity based on the teaching of Sri Aurobindo, where men of all countries would be at home”. The Mother, Janu ary 1972
“Auroville is the ideal place of those who want to know the joy and liberation of no longer having any personal possessions”. The Mother, 20.9.1969
Q.2: Who decides who can partici pate in the proj ect? To join Vikas implies first of all wanting to participate together in a conscious life, and not only finding a place to stay in Auroville. Thus, you have to examine your own aspiration and your needs and feel whether they fit or not with the spirit of Vikas. Then you will decide in your heart what to do. Nevertheless, the community will have the possibility to refuse somebody or to ask to an undesirable person to leave.
Q.3: Is there any compu lsory collective task? As Mother said, “Nothing is compulsory”. But … our life needs to be maintained and organised. So, everybody is warmly invited to share the community activities, considered as an offering to the Divine (See for more details the note “organisation of the life”).
Q.4: I have no money but I would l ike to jo in, can I? Money is no longer a problem as long as we are sincere and as long as our financial resources are shared. But nothing is free, and to fund, design and build Vikas, we need whatever help you can give: money, and / or time, energy, skill… Everybody has to give something (see for more details the note “Financial contribution”).
Q.5: If I particip ate financially i n Vikas and want to withdraw later, is it pos sible? Yes, you are free to join Vikas and free to leave whenever you want. If you decide to join, do it with confidence and without fear or reserve. In case you would like to move to another community, a part of your contribution will be reimbursed. (See for more details the note “financial contribution”).
Q.6: If parents or fri ends finance Vikas, what can they expect in return? The joy of giving: a donation should be disinterested. There will be no “holiday house” in Auroville for them, but if they want to visit Auroville, a guesthouse will be booked and they will be heartily welcome. (See for more details the Vikas friend’s policy) 57
Q.7: I have special needs... will they be satisfied? Yes, if they are real needs and not simply desires. We have to focus upon the essential and feel what we really need.
“It is very difficult to find the borderland between a true need and a desire… And there, we really face a problem which compels an extraordinary sincerity (… ) For that you must observe yourself very, very attentively and if there is anything in you which produce something like a small intense vibration, then you may be sure that there lies a desire”. The Mother, 25.1.1951 Building Vikas means neither giving exactly the same “cube of 30 m 2 “ to everyone, nor designing a special house for everyone. We have to find something in between: a harmonious architecture flexible enough to enable the satisfaction of most needs, but without extravagance.
Q.8: What will the overall design l ook li ke?
“Beauty in simplicity. Comfortable, but without luxury for luxury. Harmony in usefulness. Nothing is more beautiful than harmonious simplicity.” The Mother The design will consist mainly of row houses or small clusters of 2 to 4 floor high houses and a few single floor buildings. What we will try to do is to create a harmonious place where we can live collectively while preserving indispensable privacy; where the green spaces will link the various buildings; where the architecture will be open to and have strong links with nature. The buildings will be made mostly of local materials such as raw earth.
Q.9: What about the noise? This is a very important factor and it will be taken into serious consideration during the design. But we have to emphasis this point: noise, like other things, is a matter of consciousness, of respect for others, and those who come there will have to bear this in mind!
Q.10: Can I come and build “ my hou se in Vikas? Not if you want to have “your house” or the “house you have always dreamed of”. There are other places to do this. On the other hand, if you sincerely want to join Vikas, you will be able to choose a flat from among the 3 typical plans proposed for each category (single, couple, family)
Q.11: When will “ my hous e be built? It will only be possible to start a block of apartments once a minimum amount of people has been found who want to live in it. Thus, the more sincere individuals will be involved in the project; the faster it will be materialized. Nevertheless, a construction time of 9 to 12 months will be needed to complete a block of 5 to 7 apartments.
Q.12: What to do to joi n the proj ect? You are most welcome! If your heart tells you to share our understanding of the Mother and the Charter, just decide to participate in the adventure, whatever the difficulties and the unforeseen joys may be. Your financial help will be welcome, but also your active participation to materialize the project, according to your capacities.
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ANNEXE 5 ORGANISATION OF LIFE Apri l 1994
“An organisation is needed for the work to be done. But the organisation itself must be flexible and progressive”. The Moth er, 6.2.1969 The maintenance of living spaces of the community (kitchen, dining hall, storerooms, toilets, gardens, etc.) as well as of apartments requires attention from everybody. So, every resident is heartily invited to commit himself to some task, even a very small one, and to carry it out as a sadhana (Spiritual discipline), as a gift to the Divine and not only for his Aurovilian brothers. The aim is to participate, more and more perfectly, in an activity according to one’s capacities, rather than to do a task badly that all have to do on a compulsorily basis. There are many activities, so everybody can find his own place in a harmonious dynamism.
Community Kitchen No one is obliged to eat there regularly. Everybody can choose to share his meals with other residents or to eat on his own. But this should not mean a lack of interest or withdrawal from the community life. Those sharing the meals in the dining hall will develop a supple and harmonious organisation, evolving according to the needs. Daily activ ities
Cooking for the community Maintenance of the surroundings, of services, and apartments Maintenance of services Maintenance of gardens Follow up of the supply for the kitchen Follow up of “Prosperity”
Weekly acti vities “Shramdan” (work offering): It is done together in gardens, according to the need (2 h per week). “Satsang” (spiritual sharing): It is happening through readings of Mother and Sri Aurobindo (An evening per week).
Monthly activities General clean up of the kitchen, dining hall and community spaces (morning of the 1 st Sunday of each month).
Acti vi ties l in ked with th e develo pment Some residents will be invited to be in charge of some fields of activity, concerning the development of the project: maintenance of the buildings, fundraising, public relations, architecture design, site supervision, masonry, carpentry, plumbing, electricity, purchasing, accounts, gardens, etc. Meetings They are called occasionally, according to the need and are mainly for:
Organisation Development issues Sharing our experience Accounts and follow up
Obviously these organisational guidelines are only a base for reference and can be adapted and modified according to the evolution of needs.
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ANNEXE 6 FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION Apri l 1994 Money is not the first condition to join Vikas. The aspiration is to share our resources so that everybody gets a roof … but the project needs money for its development. So, each individual is invited to contribute for the price of the apartment he chooses, as well as to the development and solidarity funds. The development fund is meant for collective infrastructure (roads, path, services, gardens, etc.) The solidarity fund is meant to finance flats for those who do not have means. Choice of a flat Every individual or family can choose a flat among 3 typical plans proposed for each category (single, couple, family) The following area are allocated. Type 1 = 19, 27 or 39 m2 Note: These areas are carpet areas and are approximate. 2 Type 2 = 27, 39 or 51 m They can be changed according to the design. They include 2 Type 3 = 39, 51 or 63 m a terrace for each apartment and common spaces. 2 Type 4 = 51, 63 or 75 m Type 5 = 63, 75 or 87 m2 The finishing, which are proposed, are simple and each occupant can choose from among several types of flooring and plasters or paints… Terms of payment The Aurovilian or Newcomer pays for this basic contribution: Final total cost of the 21% extra for the 12% extra for the chosen flat. Development Fund Solidarity Fund. Any extra contribution will be welcome and will flow, according to the needs, into one of these 2 funds.
Reimbursement In case of exclusion by the community: 95% of the basic contribution will be returned. In case of a departure for another community in Auroville: 80% of the basic contribution will be returned (unless the beneficiary wants to donate it to Vikas) In case of a definitive departure from Auroville: No reimbursement will be allocated. Money will be reimbursed when a new tenant occupies the house, and the reimbursement will be always channelled through Auroville Fund. Beneficiaries of the Solidarity Fund Some Aurovilians who do not have enough means to pay for a flat could benefit from the Solidarity Fund to obtain one of their choices. Those who can’t pay the full cost: An extra investment of energy through work will be asked for, in proportion to the missing amount. Maintaining or developing the place could do this work.
Those who cannot pay They will be chosen by the community from a waiting list, according to their dedication towards Auroville and their aspiration to share the project spirit. They will be asked to work in exchange for a flat. This work will preferably be for Vikas Community for a minimum of 5 hours a day, as the Mother recommended it.
“Money should not be a “possession”: like power it is a means of action which is given to you, but you must use it according to … what we can call the “will of the Giver”, that is, in an impersonal and enlightened way” The Mother, 10.4.1968 So, to pay for one’s flat in Vikas does not mean that you become the owner of it, and even less that you are free from any physical participation towards its maintenance and development.
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ANNEXE 7 SEMINAR AT VIKAS: HABITAT FOR THE FUTURE 1. 1. 1997 INTROSPECTION AND SHARING TIME All of us received a call to join this adventure towards Human Unity and a new man to be born: the Supramental man. And this requires of us a two-fold aspiration: dissolution of the ego, and contact with the psychic being. We are all confident and conscious of the sincere effort of other brothers and sisters in their Sadhana. The work, which is materialized outwardly for building Her City and the Creation of a new Society, is only transitory, till the manifestation of the Supramental man. The harmonization of the “inner & outer” work will lead us to a city and a Supramental Being. THREE YEARS EXPERIENCE OF COLLECTIVE LIFE Vikas grew at the beginning very fast; too fast! In 1 year time we were already 8 adults + 1 child (today 12 adults + child). This was probably the main reason for the construction break of 2.5 years. The outer development preceded the inner development of the individuals and the collectivity. Today we are more conscious of the need to balance both!
Individual and collective progress The outer development with the building site helped the inner development of individuals. The diversity of cultures, background, ages of different beings is a crucial factor. The first necessity is the inner life which can lead or not to a more social life. To live close to each other is a good school for progress as everyone is a mirror for the others. Sharing life brought joys but also difficulties, which were boons for progress. We have the feeling of a family with a common aspiration. Conscious aspiration towards quality work and the consciousness put into matter. Evolution of the life style through the kitchen facility Breakfast and dinner were most of the time prepared individually. The main shared activity – the cooking of the lunch – passed through 4 steps: Informal cooking (the first one who arrived did the cooking). It did not work more than 4 or 5 months. Organised cooking (every body cooked one day a week). It worked for 1 year. Cooking by a servant. It worked the best. Now there is no more cooking (every body manages on his own). It is still under experimentation. Shared activiti es together They were always on a free basis. They were never compulsory. They were dropped one after the other, and over the years they had been the following: Gardening: once a week, 2 hours in the morning before 8 AM. It worked for a few months. Satsang (reading of Mother’s, Sri Aurobindo’s and Satprem’s work): one evening a week. It worked only for a few months. Clean up of the kitchen. The first Sunday of the month. It worked for a few months. Collective meditation, once a week. It worked for a few months. We tried to implement again the prosperity system (shared and collective economy) set up by the Mother… It worked for less than a year. Various activi ties done by individuals Management and follow up of the kitchen (Supply, various preparations, cleaning, etc.) Maintenance of the place based on the initiative of people. French and Tamil classes. Occasionally building together (digging, block making, masonry, plumbing, electricity, etc.) Building process Although the building of the kitchen and the first block of apartments was the inescapable responsibility of one man, this has evolved today into teamwork: from the attendance, purchase, to masonry, supervision, accounts, etc. 61
A POSSIBL E LIFE STYLE FOR THE FUTURE A vast surrender and an unlimited aspiration should be the sustaining guides. Then the lifestyle will evolve by itself in due time. Each individual should be given the choice between intimacy and sharing some common facilities. The building should allow both, according to the mood, the state of mind, and the state of developments – cyclical by nature. The spirit of the previous development should go on. It should remain open to other cells of Auroville. We should go on offering our facilities and benefiting from the facilities of other places. We aspire to a wider diversity of individuals to enrich the achievement towards unity.
POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS FOR A HABITAT OF THE FUTURE Creation of a housing f und Individuals in need of a house would give the amount intended for a house and take a space according to their need; irrespectively of what amount they contributed. Avail abi li ty of fl ats A limited choice of dwellings (area, finishes, toilet & kitchen facilities or not, etc.) will be available in advance. The housing fund would build houses prior to any demand and will deliver dwelling keys in hand straight away. Emphasis should be placed on offering simple, small dwellings without individual toilets and kitchen. Emphasis should be placed on the flexibility of the building. They should be adapted, with minor changes (area and organisation of the apartment), according to the evolving needs of the individuals or the change of individuals. Flexibility for allocating the flats Flats should allow the mobility of individuals. People could have the possibility to exchange apartments. They should be given the possibility to experience a different life style and find the best answer to their needs. A wide diversity of people should be invited. Individuals would have the possibility to experience a life with Beings from different cultures, background and behaviour… In order to promote unity through diversity, and without creating ghettos. An average of 10% of newcomer’s houses could be kept. Guest would be invited and some guest facilities will be provided only for guests related to Auroville and who are ready to give their work to Auroville. Create a progressive scale for gr ouping t he dwellings “Enlarged family unit”. It will group 10 to 15 people with common kitchen, toilet, and laundry. It is one cell of he collective body. “Small community unit”. It will group of 3 to 4 cells of “Enlarged family” unit. It would welcome 40 to 60 people with extra common facilities (i.e. Meditation room, multipurpose room, etc.): It is a cell’s combination towards the collective body. Auroville unit. It is Auroville itself: The grouping of various “community unit” within the City. Their manifold aspect will create the collective diversity towards unity of Auroville – the collective body. This grouping scale aims to provide a wide diversity of life style experiments, within Auroville. It will encompass different possib ilities ranging fr om a very close and friendly bro therhood (the cell scale) where everybody knows very well and support each other progress… to the unity of the Auroville’s collective body.
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ANNEXE 8 MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES April 1999 Vikas has originally been designed and created to use exclusively renewable energy sources, Eco friendly developments and appropriate building technologies. The maintenance of such a place asks for a constant care and awareness from every one! Following these guidelines will insure a perfect eco friendly maintenance.
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Daily
Whenever required
SOLAR LIGHT Use the light sparingly: maximum 2 at a time. Switch off all the lights as soon as you leave the flat. If somebody forgot to switch off some lights when he left, kindly ask him to be more careful next time. Check the acid level in the batteries. Clean the dust from the solar panels (Same for the solar water heater). Ask the solar service to check the batteries.
WATER CONSUMPTION The windmill and the solar pump will supply enough water for 130 people, who use it carefully. Use the water as sparingly as possible: open the tap only a little bit to let water flow slowly. Close every tap very well. As soon as a tap is leaking, see to its repair. If you only use soap for washing clothes, use the water consumed to flush the toilet or to water the plants. If you use some washing powder sparingly, flush the first water in the toilets and water the plants only with rinsing water.
WINDMILL AND SOLAR PUMP MAINTENANCE Contact the workshop as soon as some abnormal sound appears in the windmill. If the windmill out-put seems lower than usual for the same wind velocity, call the water service: the pump might have a problem. With a good wind it can supply about 12 m 3 per day. Prune the branches of the trees adjacent to the pool if they shade too early the solar pump.
Daily
Don’t let the solar pump overflow unnecessarily: switch it off.
Weekly
Clean the dust from the solar panels of the solar pump.
Monthly
Grease the bearings of the windmill wheel, the vertical axis and the pumping rod.
BUILDINGS MAINTENANCE Repair whatever damage to the buildings immediately.
Whenever required Yearly
Empty the inspection box of the kitchen. Clean it and throw the waste on the kitchen compost. Before the monsoon, check that there are no cracks on the roofs due to the heat. If so, repair them immediately.
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Daily
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Monthly
Yearly
BIOLOGICAL WASTE WATER TREATMENT It is forbidden to use toxic products, i.e. bleach, harpic, acids, caustic soda, excessive washing po wder, etc. Lagonning wastewater treatment is a living system, and any of these products will kill it. Use mainly soap (neem bar). Washing powder must be used sparingly, mainly for resistant stains. For the toilet pan and ceramic tiles, use a mixture of sabena powder (1 packet) + vinegar (1/2 bottle) + liquid neem bar soap (the dilution must be such to get a liquid cream like mixture). Apply it and let it work for few minutes; scrub strongly with spontex and rinse. (Wearing slippers, especially for the bathroom, will avoid that your red feet stain the tiles, which will require at least, 5 times less maintenance!). Remove excess water hyacinths: The first 3 compartments must b e fully cov ered with a medium density. The second 3 compartments must have 2/3 water hyacinths cover. The last 3 compartments must only have 1/3 water hyacinths cover. Remove all unhealthy or old water hyacinths: put them on the garden compost. Remove excess of water lentils: keep only a low density and put them on the compost. Check that the fishes are alive in all the system: dead fishes mean that somebody has dropped toxic products in the water. Alert people to care and respect more nature. Remove some papyrus and plants from th e digester: put them on the compost. Scrape the bottom of the 9 treatment compartments, with the scraper designed for this purpose: remove all dead fishes, frogs and plants and put them on the compost. Remove excess of lotus and water lilies in the harvesting pond: they must cover only 1/5 of the area. Check that the water lentils are not invading everything: Keep only a very low density! Put everything on the compost. Remove all the plants from the digester (papyrus and others). Save them. Remove half of the crust attached to their roots. Lay the plants immediately back in the digester.
Any st rong sm ell will mean th at t he bi o-sys tem has been ki ll ed, t hat the fis h will sh ortl y foll ow and mo squi to es will breed. GARDENING POOL When the 2 overhead tanks are full and over-flow, open the lower valve to direct the flow to the pool, only if the pool is not full. Don’t forget to close it when the water level from the higher overhead tank comes down. If the pool is full, switch off the submersible solar pump.
Daily
Weekly
Remove all dead fishes, frogs or algae and all waste blown by the wind or dropped by people.
Yearly
Empty the pool totally, preferably just before the monsoon: Transfer, by gravity, the water in the harvesting pond of the biological waste – water treatment. Pump with the solar pump, the water left in the bottom and send it in the waste – water treatment. Save the fishes, algae before the pool is totally empty. Let the slurry dry, accumulated at the bottom. Remove it once dry and put it on the garden compost. Brush the walls and the bottom of the pool with a wire brush and rinse everything very well: send this water to the adjacent soak pit. Start filling the pool again from the direct valve and put back the algae and fishes.
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Yearly
Daily
Weekly
WATER HARVESTING Check just after the first monsoon rain that no leaves block the inlet of the rainwater pipes. Check during the monsoon that no bunding is overflowing. If so repair it immediately. If the water level of the biological wastewater treatment rises above its overflow, check that nothing blocks the end of the pipe (soil, plants or roots, waste, etc.). If so, clear it to open up the flow of water. WASTE MANAGEMENT AND COMPOST Separate the organic waste of the kitchen from the inorganic (papers, plastics, tins, glass and others). Throw the waste in their respective places: in the separate drums for the papers, plastics & others and the kitchen waste on the kitchen compost. Collect any waste blown by wind or dropped by anybody else and drop it in its respective drum. Spread some leaves and topsoil on the kitchen compost. When the kitchen compost is full, shift it on the garden compost, or use it for a particular gardenwork, as it is very rich. When the lawn needs to be cut, leave the cut grass on the spot: it will quickly become compost and will enrich the land. When the drums of inorganic waste are nearly full, call the waste service to collect them.
Not to take care of material things which one uses is a sign of inconscience and ignorance. You have no right to use any material object whatsoever if you do not take care of it. You must take care of it not because you are attached to it, but because it manifests something of the Divine Consciousness. The Mother 65
ANNEXE 9 VIKAS EXPERIMENT OR THE FAILED ATTEMPT TOWARDS A SPIRITUAL , FRATERNAL, SUSTAINAB LE AND ECO-FRIENDLY LIFE 1. 8. 1999 Vikas community was born from the aspiration of few friends, who were living in the community named Aspiration, towards a collective life both spiritual and ecological. They aspired to live closer to their understanding of Sri Aurobindo Integral Yoga and to what the Mother said regarding how one should be in Auroville. They met regularly for weeks and months to lay the base of a spirit and how to manifest it. The result was a kind of Charter, Vikas Spirit, that everybody agreed on and that later every person joining Vikas would agree with. These quotations of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo inspired them:
To be the willing servitor of the Divine Consciousness”. Aurovi ll e Charter – The Moth er, Febru ary 1968
“Auroville is the attempt towards collective realisation”. The Mother, Ju ne 1968
“As the free development of the individual from within is the best condition for the growth and perfection of the community, so the free development of the community or nation fromwithin is the best condition for the growth and perfection of mankind”. Sri Aurobindo The Sanskrit word “Vikas” means expansion, progress… Vikas was supposed to be the harmonious development of a community open to the city of Auroville and to the world. Vikas could have been called “Consciousness”, because it should have been the expansion of consciousness, through a way of being, living and building towards this ultimate goal of Perfection and Transformation. Vikas Spirit wanted to give the possibility to move beyond the sense of personal possession by only using and taking care of the dwelling and things that are entrusted to people. The attempt tried to introduce a new internal economic system – Prosperity – without monetary exchange, which was supposed to be based on mutual confidence and sincerity… It worked only for a few months… Resources to build were shared in the beginning and a common fund was created where individuals were invited to deposit the amount they had to build their apartment. At the beginning, the end product was not related to the amount given but to the need that people expressed. This funding system worked quite well for setting up the infrastructure and till the completion of the first four apartments. Those who gave more than what they took paid for those who had not enough means. After the completion of the first four apartments this funding system collapsed. Vikas was supposed to be a collective project and its realisation demanded the participation of all those who wanted to live there. Those who were building and living in Vikas were supposed to consider everything an offering to the Divine. They were invited to give the best of themselves, and to participate physically and financially in all sincerity, without thinking about holding back or later recuperating what has been given… This is now an old and buried past! Nothing has ever been compulsory. Everybody was invited to commit him/herself, and most of the time people did it… but they quickly forgot their commitment. After a time, very basic guidelines had to be set up so as to avoid the worse. Until recently, Vikas has exclusively been using appropriate building technologies, renewable energy and various alternative ways. Raw earth, as a building material, has been extensively used from foundations to roof. Stabilised earth was used to build, at lower cost, up to four floors high. Ferrocement, as another appropriate technology, was also used to reduce building costs. Costly materials like reinforced concrete, steel, wood, glass, etc. were sparingly and consciously used, as their production demands a high consumption of energy and because they are not Eco-friendly at all! The Spirit of Vikas was more or less implemented, with much difficulty, as long as its founder maintained the coherence of the whole while living there… but he left in January 1997, tired after 6 years of total involvement and dedication… 66
