Avacal is one of the chief architects of the American Pavilion's latest project, which he calls the "Ladder House." The structure, which is made of bamboo ladders, rope, and Tetrapack sheets, is a mobile work and living space. At two and a half levels, the structure contains an office, 2 porch-like living areas, and a composting toilet on the first level. On the upper levels there are 8 separate bunk beds for in-house living; and best of all, the entire structure can be partially deconstructed and moved for on-site working conditions. Read more

Although connections with Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building, Construction and City development(EiABC) were established years before the Auroville International meeting in Addis Ababa this October, the interest from the side of the students was no lesser - opposite, they've followed carefully all the presentations ( in this recording we can hear Margarita , Joss and Shivaya ones) and actively participated in interactions afterward. Both - Melake Selam and Brook Teklehaimanot, who were in Auroville already, shared their knowledge Read more

On one of the lasts talks Jaya, Shivaya, Deepti, Julian Lines, Brook Teklehaimanot talked on projects for and within the international Zone. Jaya and Deepti started with general overview , and touched CIRHU (Center for International Research in Human Unity) which should be a hub and concentration spot for people to learn and grow through experiences, it should be center for all human unity... Shivaya and Julian talked about the Peace Table, made by George Nakashima. Shivaya continued with Unity Pavilion, Brook talked about Africa House. Read more

Mr. Melake Selam visited Auroville in 2008, joined Satprem at Earth Institute to learn and expand the knowledge on earthen construction in order to use this technology on his home ground - Ethiopia. Leading motto that we, humans should care about our planet and protect environment and put in use sustainability was appealing to him. All that he has been learn he put into practice, and shared the knowledge with his students. At the Institute of Architecture we saw built examples - a Sudu house (nice example of basic family house) and a vault. Read more

Successful interactions between Ethiopian students from Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building, Construction and City Development (EiABC) with Aurovillians during the AVI meeting lead also to an interesting interview with Brook Teklehaimanot, who holds the Chair of Architecture and Design, and is the author of the model of the Africa House - the Pavilion of African Culture. As he told us one doesn't really plan or draw a city, city belong to the community and plans in reality change. More important is what happen with the built spaces. Read more

Amongst presentation to Ethiopian public within AVI meeting in Addis Abbaba Cristo Mabilat touched in his presentation the work of The Auroville Earth Institute, funded by an architect Satprem, who is trying to revive the technology of construction with earth. The concept goes in line with the development and sustainability as the key of the progress. The Auroville Earth Institute is today the representative for Asia of the UNESCO Chair "Earthen Architecture, Constructive Cultures and Sustainable Development". Read more

On our regular update from L'Avenir d'Auroville or Town Development Council Renu shared some points on administrative process of proposed projects, and as she says in Auroville everything depend very much on the capacity and energy of the person in charge of the project. And TDC should be there just to assist the project with the use of the footprint of the galaxy loosely while looking at the ground reality, and that way keep the dynamism of the galaxy without being to attached to the map. Water Task Team will be soon ready to present plans.

Auroville still has lot to learn about important issues like housing. Practicing diversity in unity is not easy but as Renu noted in the interview, one of the thing common to us all is that each one of us is attached to the development of Auroville. Common agreement has to come partially from people being sensitized and understanding as to why the land is used and why is there a certain density. And maybe by all of us actively searching for solutions will bear more fruits than criticizing.