 Creativity Housing Project
An experimental housing project in Auroville
by Paula Murphy, Evolve
Winter 2001
Creativity is a new and exciting housing project in Auroville
that is consciously asking the question, "How can people
who are different live together in peace and harmony?"
It is also one of the answers to the challenge of the housing
shortage that Auroville has been experiencing over the last
few years. Creativity has living spaces specifically designated
for guests and Newcomers, so that they can experience community
life with Aurovilians.
Several individuals worked together for over two years
to create the charter for this housing project. They have
considered several key issues, including cultural diversity,
cost effectiveness, aesthetics, environmental impact, and
suitability for a wide variety of residents. To ensure cultural
diversity, one of the points in the charter states, "Any
cultural group normally should not represent more than 25%
of the community members."
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Deliberately encouraging
cultural and economic diversity, the Creativity housing
project is a dynamic experiment in sustainable urban
living.
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On the environmental side, this is an experiment in sustainable
urban living. It will become a demonstration site for eco-technologies
and the integrated management of human and natural resources.
The community will use alternative forms of energy such
as solar power, harvest rainwater, and have a living wastewater
treatment plant. Eco-friendly building materials are being
used. Fifty five percent of the site will be green with
trees and an organic garden for the community kitchen.
Work is ongoing. Funding for this project is crucial at
this time to allow construction to continue uninterrupted
and prevent cost overruns. If construction is able to continue
uninterrupted, Creativity should be ready for occupation
in August 2002.
Progress Report - November 2001
The foundation stone of the ambitious project was laid
with a small gathering and collective concentration on the
site on Sri Aurobindo's birthday, August 15, 2001. Since
then, the Creativity site next to Vikas has been buzzing
with activity as construction proceeds at full pace. Sonali,
colleague of Anupama in Kolam is on site architect and Dhanapal
is the project contractor for the super structure. Together
they are overseeing the construction, which is rapidly progressing
well within the projected time frame and budget. At the
time of writing (mid November), the ground floor super structure
for the whole site except the common hall is nearly complete
and in the next few days, the first cement ceiling slabs
will be cast.
Aurovilian Erisa has offered to undertake the woodwork
for the full project and has rallied the support of many
Aurovilians for both help with the carpentry as well as
donations of wood.
Your Donation Will Help
Although enough money has been raised to begin construction
of the Creativity Housing Project, your support is urgently
needed to ensure that construction can continue uninterrupted.
Any donation, large or small, will make a difference. You
can donate
online now with your credit card on Helping.org's secure
server.
For More Information
You can learn more about the Creativity housing project
by viewing the Macromediat Flash Presentation below, by
visiting Creativity
on Auroville's website or by writing the Housing Group
at: housing@auroville.org.in.
* in order to view the presentation online, you may be
prompted to download and install the Macromedia Flash Plugin
after you click on the link.
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