6. Building Case Studies 6.5. Auroville Architectural Observations 6.5.2. Ness School, Auroville Earth Institute and other building at Auroville,Pondicherry.
An interesting observation made at the Ness School was how the building itself was part of the playground for the children. A simple sloped surface and sculptural aesthetics which are also structural nature breaks down the rules of a direct and traditional approach to building construction. The kids have a very active participation with the building and it doesn’t remain a mere backdrop to their daily lives. A sub-conscious memory and experience of the building is created. The elements used for aesthetics and ornamentation can be as simple as impressions on the walls of flora that the local community recognize and relate to. It gives the building a sense of belonging to the locality. Also, the process of building is one that can be highly participatory with the member that are going to be using them. The sense of entitlement that have with building also makes sure they go a little out of their way to maintain he building and its premises as if it were their own. Incorporation of rainwater harvesting roof instead of the traditional roof structure at the Ness School is dual purpose. The raised arches that collect the waster are also raised up from the walls of the schools allowing for the movement of natural breezes in the hot and humid climate of Pondicherry. The funnel shape of the roof structure also drastically reduces the surface exposed to direct solar radiation, thereby reducing the heat being transferred to the interior spaces. When building with natural materials like earth, you pair it with other naturally existing materials like stone / rough granite for structural reasons. These materials are locally available, economic and the local population know how to work with them thereby construction project such as these puts them to work in fields that they are skilled in. The introduction of new technologies of construction also opens up opportunities for training the unskilled locals which they can use as a source of income generation. Water-bodies in a hot and humid climate are encouraged so as the cool the air that passes over them before entering internal spaces. But they also tend to become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other such undesirables because they are stagnant. Therefore introducing a simple, economic and locally sourced circulation system can prevent the stagnation of water and cool the surroundings. Further more to combat the mosquito situation in the hot and humid climate of Pondicherry, introducing plants in water bodies that kill the eggs of the mosquitoes are an additional measure.
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