CASE STUDY- Savitri Bhavan, Auroville

LOCATION SAVITRI BHAVAN, A CENTRE FOR SPIRITUAL EDUCATION

ORGANISATION OF ACTIVITIES:.
• E-W Axis, pointing towards Banyan
Tree.
• 3 Building Units which can function
separately.
• Main building opens into 3 main
spaces inthe South.
• Split level arrangement.
• Transverse curved wall.
• Hostel rooms opening towards the
East lawns.
Auroville is located in south India, mostly in the State of Tamil Nadu (some Savitri Bhavan in Auroville is a centre dedicated to fostering a living sense of Human
parts are in the State of Puducherry), a few kilometres inland from the Unity through spiritual education based on the vision and teachings of Sri Aurobindo and
Coromandel Coast, approx 150 kms south of Chennai (previously Madras) the Mother. The central focus is Sri Aurobindo’s mantric epic Savitri : a legend and a
1. Multi purpose Hall 5. Archives
and 10 kms north of the town of Puducherry. symbol, which the Mother has called ‘The supreme revelation of Sri Aurobindo’s vision’.
2. Storage 6. Audio-Visual Room
Savitri Bhavan aims to gather and create, to house and make available all kinds of 3. Laboratories 7. Toilets
The concept of Auroville - an ideal township devoted to an experiment in 4. Washrooms 8. Amphitheatre
human unity materials and activities that will foster a deeper appreciation of Savitri, of the lives, work
Basement plan 9. Conference Hall
Auroville is a universal township in the making for a population of up to and vision of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, and of the aims and ideals of Auroville
50,000 people from around the world.
ENTRANCE PLAZA :
• Front Facade creating a backdrop for Sir Aurobindo’s
Picture Gallery: Displays the Meditations on Savitri paintings made by Huta under the
bronze statue.
guidance of the Mother, illustrating selected passages from Sri Aurobindo’s poem.
• The reception area overlooks the green lawns in front.
• Three separate entries from the stepped plaza that can be
Reading Room: Houses a reference collection of books and journals to facilitate study run separately
and understanding of Sri Aurobindo’s Savitri.

Audio-visual Collection: Contains a rich collection of recorded talks, video-films and

music relating to Savitri, the life and teachings of Sri Aurobindo

House of Mother’s Agenda: Was created in 1988 to provide access to the Mother’s
Agenda – the Mother’s record of her sadhana from 1956-1973.
Overview of the city plan
ART GALLERY :
Reception and Information Service: The Reception Desk is open from 9-5 daily, 6 • The curved wall separates the gallery from the rest of the
Peace Area days a week, to receive visitors and answer queries. Queries from students and researchers active spaces of the main building, while also serving the
At the centre of the township are also dealt with by e-mail and correspondence. purpose of a display wall.
lies the Peace Area, comprising • The roof is a sloping one, flanked by skylights.
the Matrimandir and its gardens Research: Savitri Bhavan has been created to foster a living research that aids the growth
of consciousness. Supporting all these activities a team of researchers is engaged in
Industrial Zone developing materials that will foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the vision
A 109-hectare area to the north and work of Sri Aurobindo.
of the Peace Area, the Industrial
Zone, a zone for "green" 1. Entry Court
industries, is focused on 2. Statue
Auroville's efforts towards a 3. Front Lawns
self-supporting township. 4. Reception Desk
5. Offices
6. Reading Rooms MULTI PURPOSE HALL:
Residential Zone Cultural Zone 7. Multi purpose Hall
• The multi purpose hall has a dual enclosure.
The largest of the four city zones, comprising Planned on a 93-hectare area, 8. Amphitheatre
of 189 hectares, the Residential Zone is • Interior - Concrete walls with clerestory windows.
situated to the east of the Peace 9. Picture Gallery
bordered by parks on the north, south and • Exterior - Slab protruding out supported on columns on
Area, the Cultural Zone will be 10. Foyer
west. a site for applied research in 11. Conference Hall
all four sides.
education 12. Terrace • Covered by a concrete dome resting on four corners of
International Zone 13. Hostel Rooms the square slab.
The International Zone, a zone of 74 hectares Green Belt 14. Entrance Courtyard
to the west of the Peace Area, will host The city area with a radius of 15. Pond
national and cultural pavilions, grouped by 1.25 km. will be surrounded by 16. Kitchen
continents. Its central focus is to create a Ground floor plan
a Green Belt of 1.25 km width. 17. Dining Area
living demonstration of human unity in As a zone for organic farms, Hostel block 18.Garden
diversity dairies, orchards, forests, 19. Caretakers Quarters
Main block
and wildlife areas 20. Rear Exit
Caretakers quater

Santnagri – Interpretation Centre 04- Sagar Gheewala