Auroville, an Experimental Township
Auroville is an international township in making, envisioned as an experiment in human unity by the Mother, and planned for a population of 50,000. In 1965 she sketched a schematic plan of her city with four zones surrounding the Matrimandir and invited the French architect, Roger Anger, to design the city. Simultaneously, the Sri Aurobindo Society started off the purchase of the lands needed for the township. The project was then submitted to the Govt. of India to table at the 1966 General Assembly of UNESCO, where it was passed with an unanimous resolution commending it as a project of importance for the future of humanity, thereby giving their full encouragement. The project was formally inaugurated on the 28th February 1968.
With the passing of the Mother on 17th November 1973, due to the irreconcilable difference between the residents and the members of the Sri Aurobindo Society, the Government of India passed the Auroville Emergency Provisions Act and appointed an administrator to manage the project while they worked on a legal framework for Auroville’s development. On the 29th September 1988, The Auroville Foundation Act 1988 was passed in the parliament of India, enabling the acquisition of all assets and undertakings relatable to Auroville without payment of compensation. The Auroville Foundation came into existence in January 1991. The assets were vested in the Foundation on April 1st, 1992. Auroville, sometimes referred to as “The City of Dawn” is conceived for a population of 50,000 from all over the world. At the centre stands the Matrimandir the “soul of the city”, a place for silent meditation, within oval shaped garden called the Peace Area that is to be surrounded by a waterbody. Radiating out beyond Lake is the city centre encircled by a boulevard that is called Crown linking the four zones namely Industrial, Cultural, Residential and International radiate out, each focusing on an important aspect of the town’s life. There are 4 urban parks that act as the boundaries of the zones. Surrounding this township is a Green Belt consisting of pre-existing local village settlements, forested areas, farms and biodiversity sanctuaries.
The Matrimandir and its gardens is the geographical and the spiritual
centre of Auroville, symbolizing the point of intersection between Auroville’s aspiration for the Divine and the Divine’s response to the man’s aspiration for perfection. It is also an ideal of harmony and balance, inviting seekers to connect with higher consciousness.
The surrounding 12 gardens, derived from the symbol of the Mother reflect the harmony between humanity and nature with a lake surrounding these gardens.
The city centre composed of the administrative sector as a continuation from the industrial zone and the educational campus along with parks as a continuation from the cultural zone encircle Matrimandir and its gardens with the crown boulevard acting as link to the 4 zones that radiate out from the centre. The crown road acts as the major collector and distributer of the flow of traffic, internally linking the 4 zones – international, industrial, cultural and residential. The development along this boulevard is expected to serve the social, cultural and essential daily needs of the residents of the township, working and living in the zone adjacent to the crown.
The predominant land use of each zone is expected to follow the name, for example the Residential Zone that is made up of 5 sectors of diverse habitat typology, densities and building heights will house the residents, have first necessity outlets, childcare centres and small working spaces. The International Zone is supposed to accommodate the pavilions of the various countries along with hostels, hotels, exhibition and conference centres as it will act as the zone of interface with the world. The Cultural Zone will accommodate schools, performing and plastic art studios, performance spaces, sports and housing for students, volunteers and teachers. The Industrial Zone has 4 main functions: research and innovation, training and skill development, provide productive and meaningful employment for the Aurovilians and the local population and produce the goods and services required for the township of Auroville. The entire project is surrounded by a Green Belt which also includes the local village settlements has a dual role of food production and regeneration of ecosystem services like conservation of biodiversity and water resource.
Zones
Narratives
Residents’ Assembly
Land Matters
Bioregion and Outreach
Urban Planning Authorities over Time
[Master] Plans of Auroville, 1965 to 2001
Timeline of Featured Documents
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