Appropriate architecture &
building technologies

Cost-effective building technology

CSR became active in this field of research in 1989 after receiving a grant from HUDCO (Housing & Urban Development Corporation, Govt. of India) to establish an "Auroville Building Centre" (AV-BC) for research and training in cost-effective building technologies. Over the past years, the Auroville Building Centre has specialised in two cost-effective building techniques: ferrocement and unfired earth. The Centre offers regular training courses and has constructed a number of buildings in Auroville and elsewhere to demonstrate the advantages of ferrocement and earth technology.

The main grants received by the Auroville Building Centre have come from the Govt. of India (HUDCO, BMTPC & NBO), the German Govt. (KFW & Gate), the UK Govt. (ODA), the Danish Govt. (DANIDA), the United Nations (UNCHS, Nairobi, Kenya) and several private funding agencies.

The Auroville Building Centre is one of India's leading organizations in ferrocement and earth technology. The Centre received in 1992 the Egyptian "Hassan Fathy International Award for Architecture for the Poor", and twice in recent years has received from the hands of India's Minister for Urban Development the "Best Building Centre Award".

Ferrocement technology

AV-BC has developed 12mm thick ferrocement biogas plants and water tanks. It is also the inventor of cost-effective and durable 12mm thick ferrocement doors and of a fully prefabricated, ready-to-install ferrocement latrine, which is one of the latrine models approved by India's Ministry for Rural Development. AV-BC's ferrocement doors and latrines are now manufactured all over the country.

AV-BC has been the prime mover in the promotion of highly cost-effective ferrocement roofing techniques in India. At the request of the Govt. of India, and in recognition of AV-BC's unmatched experience and competence in this field, AV-BC wrote the Code of Practice for Ferrocement Roofing Channels.. The IFIC (International Ferrocement Information Centre, AIT, Bangkok) recognizes AV-BC as one of their Resource Centres in Asia.

Unfired earth technology

The architect of AV-BC's Earth Unit graduated from - and is a member of - CRATerre, the world-renowned specialists in earth construction and architecture. Under his guidance, AV-BC has developed a whole range of earth construction equipment; including two types of manual press for manufacturing Compressed Earth Blocks. AV-BC's Earth Unit also trains people in building with unfired earth techniques and rammed earth.