SLI 2015 PROJECT INFORMATION Livelihoods of people in rural India have been under severe stress over the last decade due to the effects of globalization. Locally-made products compete with imported products, locally-grown food competes with mass-produced food, and human labor competes with machines. These changes have resulted in natural resources being neglected and overexploited, concentration of human resources toward mass production as cheap labour, and rural communities losing their traditional bonds maintained by localized economies. All of this has contributed to an overall degeneration of quality of life. The National Rural Livelihood Mission was set up by the Government of India to address these issues by supporting rural livelihoods, under which each state has its own State Rural Livelihood Mission. These bodies design and implement locally relevant livelihood-enhancing and -supporting schemes through community organizations. The programmes have been successful in some ways but are ultimately unsustainable in that these local enterprises end up dependent on the larger markets. They also often lack an integral perspective of livelihood in terms of health, ecology and longevity. The state government recognizes this as a huge challenge. To this end, in 2014, the Tamilnadu State Rural Livelihood Mission took steps to launch a Sustainable Livelihood Institute (SLI) that would equip State Government functionaries as well as rural communities to think and work from a sustainable paradigm. It invited Auroville to be its partner in this venture . Thus SLI was to be developed and managed as a joint project by the state Rural Livelihood Mission and Auroville. The state government requested that Auroville design and deliver regular programmes and agreed to fund the creation of a physical facility to house SLI. From this facility participants would use wider Auroville as a campus. The design of the insitute should showcase the best of Auroville architecture, design, technologies, and conservation practices. A consortium of three architecture firms from Auroville under the working name of Architects Collaborative was formed and followed a process of Dreamweaving – a process evolved in Auroville - which consciously aims for the Highest Common Factor rather than the Lowest Common Denominator in a team work. Link to Dreamcatchers pdf. The Master Plan of SLI on the designated site near Irumbai Lake was thus finalised in a harmonious and collaborative manner, after which the project didnot go further in its physical manifestation. However SLI continued to conduct field workshops within Auroville and its bio region till 2019, delivering some important milestones in the realisation of the aims set up TNRLM. BACK TO PROJECTS

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GARDEN OF THE UNEXPECTED 2022 PROJECT INFORMATION PROCESS On 2 June 2018, Matrimandir announced an international open design event inviting design proposals for the Garden of the Unexpected. 22 registrations were received. An Expert panel was formulated to review and furnish feedback on the designs. Stage 1 - Concept submission along with a basic estimate, feedback given by the expert panel based on 4 parameters: Concept & Aesthetics; Interactivity & engagement; Sustainability and Implementation & Practicality . In Stage 2, the participants were given one month to rework and submit their designs along with a 5 min slideshow/video of their proposal. Eventually 3 entries were shortlisted by the expert panel from 11 entries submitted. On 21st October 2018, an exhibition was held in Unity Pavilion, Auroville to display the works of all the eleven entries. A public panel consisting pre-registered Aurovilians from diverse backgrounds gathered over half a day, to select the winning entry from the 3 selected entries. All entries were kept anonymous. The team Unexpected Four was chosen to manifest the Garden of the Unexpected with detailed feedback given. As there were several compelling elements in the other two designs as per the community feedback, the organizers requested the winning entry to integrate some of them. Thus began Dreamweaving – a unique process which has been developed in Auroville based on co-creation. This involved several open discussions among the teams. Over the span of two months, the best aspects from the other two designs were integrated into the winning design, without it losing its essence. CONCEPT The Garden of the Unexpected has a dignified independence from the other gardens...it is a different being, a place with a twinkle in its eye…There are 4 gardens reflecting the spirit of place named BIRTH , ADOLESCENCE , YOUTHFULNESS , ETERNAL CHILD. IMPLEMENTATION Garden of the Unexpected is a team work of Mona Doctor-Pingel, Madhivanan Gnanvel, Joss Brooks and Andreas Bickford (architect based in Australia). This is one of the biggest areas for landscape in the Matrimandir oval complex comprising 2 acres, separated in to four different segments by footpaths. The execution of the gardens work was started on 21st February 2019 with a gathering of Aurovillians and planting of the first 12 plumeria bushes in the fourth segment of the Garden of Eternal child abutting the West Axis of Matrimandir. Garden of the Adolescence , was the first to be implemented and got completed on 21st November 2019 , It was inaugurated with children of Auroville planting some small seasonal flowering plants. The Garden of Birth was inaugurated on the 15th August 2020 quietly due to COVID 19. Garden of Youthfulness & Garden of the Eternal child are currently under construction. This project received the HUDCO Special Mention certificate in the Landscape Planning and Design Category, 2020. POSTCARDS AND STICKERS As an initiative to contribute towards Auroville’s land campaign and create awareness about the project simultaneously, the studio has developed a line of postcards and stickers showcasing the Garden of Unexpected. All proceeds from this set will go to securing land for Auroville, and sold under the initiative, “Art for Land”. The set includes 2 postcards and 6 stickers - All elements are from the Garden, such as the flora curated carefully and the fauna that visits the garden as a result, and other elements designed for the garden by the studio. Artwork credits – Shyambhavi Shukla AWARDS Garden of the Unexpected has been honored with a commendation award by Centre for Development of Stones (CDOS) 11th edition of international stone industry exhibition on 10th November, 2022. To read more about the project, see article . BACK TO PROJECTS

FISH HOUSE 2019 PROJECT INFORMATION Client: Biswanath Jena Year: 2019 Location: Pondicherry Site Area: 93 m² Built Up Area: 388 m² Typology: Residence & Airbnb Team: Mona. Structure: G. Kumaresan Contractor: Mohan Constructions Photo Credits: Santosh Kumar Drone Photos: Prabuddha Patro Fish House is situated on a small corner plot of 7.5 x 12.5 metres, at the cross road of Muthumariamman kovil street and the ambour salai, a busy prominent street in Pondicherry. The name derived from the fact that opposite the site is a local fish market and the client's liking for aquariums. The design had to combat the smell of fish , the menace of crows , noise and dust from the adjacent Canal Street. A study of the settlement patterns of the surrounding area – which primarily consists of row houses, (dating 200 years) – showed the utilisation of courtyards to attain good lighting , ventilation and acoustics . These courtyards are often positioned to only one side of the houses. This local typology has been adapted into Fish House, through the form of a narrow courtyard (1.2 m wide) running along the western side. Contained within this courtyard is the buildings entire infrastructure e.g. fresh water and waste water pipelines. The ground floor has a meditation hall, small library and study, bathroom and kitchenette. A biopond running along the eastern wall of the site provides a sense of serenity and helps cool off the radiating heat coming from the east. Catering to the client’s needs, each floor plan is different. The ground plan is dedicated to meditation and visitors, while the upper three floors are private apartments for the family. The concrete slabs have an infill of aerated cement concrete blocks to reduce sound travelling through the floor, as well providing thermal insulation. The green wall coursing its way up and down the east and south facade is designed for its thermal and aesthetic properties , as well as to provide shelter for local small birds, which have increasingly lost their nesting grounds in Pondicherry. The balconies and terrace bear large planters of Curtain Veil and Bougainvillea that cascades down upon a steel frame structure with chain link netting. The residence is also partly available as a homestay. March 2021 Moulding a new social order - Article on Fish House, Project by Ar Mona Doctor-Pingel. By Ar Ridha Fatima Inscape - Oficial publication by Institute of Indian interior designers (IIID) Volume 02, Issue 02. See article BACK TO PROJECTS

KALPANA APARTMENTS (unbuilt) 2012 PROJECT INFORMATION The design of this Apartments and Community Centre was commissioned to Studio Naqshbandi around August 2011. It was to be located in sector 1 of the Residential Zone of Auroville which has a relatively low density development. It was to house about 130-140 persons in 52 apartments of varied sizes, ranging from studio space to three bedroom apartments for families. A swimming pool, some offices, a Gym, laundry, home theatre, open air amphitheatre, sports area for badminton, table tennis, guest rooms for friends of Kalpana residents, common space for meetings / exhibition, covered parking, a Restaurant etc. were planned around the community centre with a common plaza and was an integral part of the project. The concept of Kalpana Apartments evolved around a lively Internal street which will be fully pedestrian and landscaped. This was an important starting point, since one of the major challenges one faces in designing residential apartments in Auroville, where most buildings are naturally ventilated , is the aspect of a very minimal ambient sound level , thereby making it difficult to have normal conversations in the privacy of homes. Added to this is the multi-cultural aspect, where each culture’s threshold of acceptance of noise can vary greatly. Creating thus an internal street which allows for many activities to take place would add to the ambient noise giving the residents more privacy . In Kalpana we had consciously chosen to create a layout which is flexible based on a modular system. This would make each person feel that their apartment is slightly different from others giving them a sense of identity. The end effect was an organic form which allows for porosity and multiplicity of choices and interactions . BACK TO PROJECTS

STUDIO NAQSHBANDI EXTENSION 2018 PROJECT INFORMATION Client: Mona Doctor-Pingel Year: 2008 (Extension 2019) Location: Auroville Built Up Area: approx. 100m2 Typology: Architecture Studio Team: Mona, Nancy Agarwal Contractor: Mohan Constructions Photo Credits: Ridho Cairns This small-scale project is an extension to the existing architecture studio based in Auroville. Completed a decade after the first phase was constructed, by the same architect. It imbues the same refined architectural qualities from the interiors to the landscaping. It is a space for art , discussion , wonder , as well as work . This is felt as one brushes their feet against the rough Cuddapah stone, or admires the calligraphy pinned to the sliding panels next to the wooden desk. Numerous textures, from the low concrete ceiling made from mango wood formwork, to the achakali brick cladding the vault’s underside, to the smooth shell-lime plaster of the walls, give the user a constant tactile experience of the space . Located at the Yantra Community within the industrial zone of Auroville, surrounded by residences and indigenous vegetation that is drought-resistant. The project is in a hot-humid coastal climate and makes use of cross-ventilation . The original architecture studio was built in 2008 by the same architect, integrating interior design and landscaping. The extension was squeezed into a tight space between the road and the original studio. To read more about the project, see article . BACK TO PROJECTS

SANCTUARY AMAIDIYANA - CGH (ex TTR) 2026 PROJECT INFORMATION Client: Karuna Seshadri Year: 2018, 2023-25 Location: Bommapalyam, near Auroville Site Area: 5200 m2 Typology: Boutique Hospitality Team: Ridho Cairns, Madhivanan G ( landscaping), Mona Doctor-Pingel Structure: Mr Purushottaman NPC Photo Credits: Vimal Bhojraj, Mona Doctor-Pingel Contractor: Mohan Constructions Drone Photos: Vimal Bhojraj Artists: Shrishti Dangi ( Room wall painting), Windglaze Pottery_Puneet Brar ( ceramic murals and room niche art), Aaavartan Studio_Rakhee Kane ( ceramic spouts) Temple Tree Resort is a boutique resort and spa nestled within the forested outskirts of Auroville. Established in2011, it offers various luxuries like dining-lounge area overlooking a bio-pond, wheelchair accessible rooms around a courtyard, a state-of-the-art wellness centre, a Watsu Pool for aquatic therapy and an outdoor swimming pool set amidst nature. Temple Tree Resort evokes a deep sense of serenity and beauty emerged as an ideal place for restoring and revitalizing the body, mind and soul. The seamless balance between the interior and exterior enriches the feeling of harmony and peace within; as one takes in the detailed curated landscape. "A meeting place of the land and the sky, a dialogue between the nature and the observer ." The single and double storey cottages are meticulously designed and soulfully crafted integrating the Eastern and Western artistic and architectural elements . The holistic use of materials, raw concrete structural elements , black cuddapah floor , designer wooden furniture is what provides warmth and adds character to the rooms. Every room at Temple Tree Resort has been named after the significance of a flower , assigned by The Mother and has a hand painted entrance signage, a wall mural and a ceramic art that captures the beauty of each flower, carrying a silent message. While the eyes and the mind ponder the details, the heart is filled with the beauty that each flower brings to us enhancing the experience at Temple tree retreat even further. To read more about the project, Architect And Interiors India , see article . BACK TO PROJECTS

SAIL 2023 PROJECT INFORMATION Client: HP Rama – Auro University, Surat Year: 2023 Location: Surat Site Area: 9200 m² Built Up Area: 2800 m² Landscaped Area: 2950 m² Typology: Public / Institution Team: Mona Doctor-Pingel, Ojas Vyas , Suraj Dwiwedi, Alma Anna, Nehaa Bhawaraju, Prakash Raj, Roshita Sudhir, Nancy Agarwal, Ralph Sequeira, Renuka Gupta, Mihir R. Desai. Structure: NPC Builders, Pondicherry Contractor: Bhoomi Constructions, Ahmedabad + M/S DH Patel, Surat MEPF: Artech Engineering, Ahmedabad Waste water treatment: Aqua Engineers, Auroville Acoustics: Sound Wizards, Auroville Lighting: Light-Fish, Auroville Interiors & Landscaping: Studio Naqshbandi, Interior design - Tushita Gandhi, Shrishti Art Studio Click here to view the BROCHURE . This project has recevied national and international recognition through publication on multiple digital and print media June 2024 Spiritual hub in India provides a source of wisdom and inspiration, By Ar Apurva Bose Dutta RIBA See article ( Digital , Print Publication ) The Sri Aurobindo Integral Learning Centre (SAILC) in Surat dedicated to Sri Aurobindo – his vision and thought – aspires to be a global hub for the youth to study and research on his philosophy and work. The building invites one on a journey of discovery with its beguiling simplicity and layered experience. The built form surrounded by 2300sq.m of carefully designed ‘natural’ water bodies is ideated to give its users a sensorially rich spatial experience. The interplay between indoors and outdoors is pivotal in the design of SAILC. The landscape interweaving the built form in the form of courtyards, harvesting lakes, planted trees, green roofs and bio-ponds help create a surreal world within. The simple material palette of the building consists of exposed load bearing brickwork and RCC roof, with kota stone flooring. Most of the spaces inside the building are naturally ventilated making use of passive solar techniques and bioclimatic design strategies for thermal comfort and cooling. BACK TO PROJECTS

TEMPLE TREE RETREAT 2011 PROJECT INFORMATION Client: Nalin Patel Year: 2008-2012 Location: Bommapalayam, near Auroville Site Area: 4000m2 Built Up Area: 1200m2 Typology: Boutique Hotel Team: Arusha Shridhar, Sonam P. Kesarkar, Kriti Gupta Structure: Thamizarasan Photo Credits: Sanjiv Raman, Jasmine Patel Contractor: Mohan Constructions Consultants: Dirk Nagel, Aqua Engineers (Waste Water Treatment), Kavit and Aurore (Solar Water Heating System) Temple Tree Retreat is a boutique resort that responds to the client’s vision to create a welcoming atmosphere “for those who want a serene and beautiful place to come to, after meditating at the Inner Chamber of the Matrimandir. ” The retreat responds to and engages with the landscape and sky – creating a dialogue between nature and the observer . On entering the site a carefully laid pathway of rough granite stones, flanked by precast concrete garden lamps lead one to the biopond that wraps itself around the entry verandah. The pink lilies and the sound of a water fountain greet the visitor inviting them to relax. The ponds and gardens integrate with the verandahs of the elevated ground floor structure and each room has a well laid out garden space in the front and back. Designed around an internal courtyard for light and privacy , the main house contains a kitchen, dining, two guest rooms and a private apartment on the first floor, opening on to a terrace garden. The sloping Mangalore tiled roofs are supporting with a system of precast concrete rafters, clad internally with bison board and insulated with a layer of thermocal. The material palette conists of black Cuddapah flooring , teak wood doors and exposed concrete structure . Plastered walls of Porotherm hollow clay blocks make for adequate sound and thermal insulation . A meditation space is nestled over a pond between the main house and cottages, designed to open up to the landscape when needed. Use of white marble for flooring and wall panels allows for a diffused light quality, lending a sense of sanctity to this chamber. RECOGNITION: Awards: This project received the Runner-Up position in Landscape Category, WADe India Excellence Awards, 2018. Magazine Articles: July - August 2015 ADDRESSING THE FIVE SENSES A Report on the work of Mona Doctor-Pingel, Architect, Studio Naqshbandi by Nandhini Sundar & REJUVENARING in ITS SIMPLICITY A report on Temple Tree Retreat by Nandhini Sundar antarya Issue 10. See articles August 2015 A Report on Temple Tree Retreat and the work of Mona Doctor-Pingel, Architect, Studio Naqshbandi ARCHITECT and INTERIORS INDIA Volume 7, Issue 5. See article https://youtu.be/JfPd_-646sM BACK TO PROJECTS

ELIZABETH HOUSE 2018 PROJECT INFORMATION Client: Elizabeth Kurian Year: 2018 Location: Auroville Built Up Area: Typology: Resistance Team: Melina, Pratha, Ines, Roshita, Mona Contractor: Suresh, Permual, Sundar & Bhaskar This project was recieved as renovation of an existing old keeth house in a dilapidated state for our client Elizabeth residing in the green belt of Auroville. Rains, animals and security were major concerns of the client and the key criterion was to find low cost building solutions due to minimal budget . The intervention includes what is existing , keeping the columns and its base intact, and renovating only the plinth. The client's demand to shift the entrance for aesthetics and vastu concerns; was catered to by converting the existing entry into an attached bathroom. A small kitchenette was artistically incorporated in the Ground floor . A new internal staircase helped connect directly with the first floor maintaining utmost security , also offering an open air balcony. Whole ground floor is mosquito proofed and protected by red colour MS grill , which stands out as a unique (at an angle allows for more space) low cost design element . Continuing the same language the new (octagonal with wind exhaust) roof is designed with MS rafter structure with GI sheets . To see full Elizabeth House process documentaton, click the PDF link... BACK TO PROJECTS