Client: Paula, Murphy

Typology: Birthing Center

Location: Near Sante, Auroville

Site Area: 1440 m2

Built Up Area: 507 m2

Costing: 2.14 Cr. (Estimated) _ 42000 / m2

Architecture: Mona Doctor- Pingel, Keerthana A., Foram Jani, Shrey Narigara, Divy Jajodia, 

Timeline: Design Beginning: Nov 2022 | Start of Construction : Oct 2024 | Ongoing: (as of 09.12.25)

KEY Features:

Vaults and Domes in brick | Womblike Domes | Central & Personal Courtyards

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Morning star is a center for training, education and research on Birthing, maternity and women wellbeing. It is a place for Women and girls, pregnant women during  their period of pregnancy, birthing and post pregnancy. To us the main design consideration was on how to create a space with utmost feeling of privacy (visual  and acoustic), security and a sense of wellbeing for women. The birth center is perceived with intimate spaces for women along with multiple courtyards. 

The underlined concept of designing with arches and flat domes in exposed brick is to create a cocoon like space which is warm and inviting. Multiple private court yards are introduced in order to give access to open spaces. There is easy accessibility to all the rooms through the central courtyard. The design approach was to  delineate the building into three parts - the private, semi private and public. The toilets, utility and other services were used to create buffers between the private  and public zone. The design does not only focus on the act of birthing but also celebrates the entire process of pregnancy, child birth, women care, education and research programs. The birth center is conceived with the needs of Auroville resident population in mind. The average number of births is between 10 and 15 per  year.

The main functional spaces include: 

1) Two birthing rooms with private courtyards and one with a birthing pool;

2) A onsultation/ gynecology room and a mid- wife office;

3) A spacious multipurpose hall on the first floor for prenatal classes, yoga etc;

4) A family waiting area with kitchenette placed near the entrance.