Pavilion of Tibetan culture

 
rule
 
see also the 
Auroville Web site 
and the 
Auroville section 
of the 
Integral Yoga Web site
The construction of a second Pavilion (after the Bharat Nivas) has started. It was more than twenty-five years ago that the first Pavilion began. The second Pavilion in the International zone of Auroville, the Pavilion of Tibetan Culture, will try to embody the words of the Mother: "…the cultures of the different regions of the earth will be represented here in such a way as to be accessible to all, not merely intellectually, in ideas, theories, principles and languages, but also vitally, in habits and customs, in art under all forms—painting, sculpture, music, architecture, decoration—and physically too through natural scenery, dress, games, sport, industries and food. It is perhaps symbolic that it is a nation without a country but with a deep and ancient culture which has accepted to build in the International Zone what will, we hope, be the sign of her inner quest. 

Though His Holiness the Dalai Lama laid the Foundation Stone of the Pavilion on the eve of Christmas 1993, the actual construction has been delayed for different reasons, in particular by the accident of one of the architects who fell from a windmill and took several months to recover. The choice of the architecture of the building was an Aurovillian adventure and as often happens in Auroville, ended in a consensus/compromise between the technical and esthetic requirements and ultimately a far better result than the original plan. In March the final model was presented to His Holiness the Dalai Lama who made some comments for improvement of the inner courtyard and blessed the project. 

Ts the plans were slightly modified, an extra plot of land on the western side of the Pavilion was allocated by the Planning Office in Auroville. On the eastern side, the tree planted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama will not be disturbed by the new plans, but the Foundation Stone laid by His Holiness is now outside the building. It will not be a technical problem at a later stage to move the foundation wall and the brick around it to the new entrance of the Pavilion. We decided to give the responsibility of building the Pavilion to the Auroville Building Centre, a unit of the CSR which has specialized in appropriate building technology. The main idea is that this building could be used as a technical resource center for the Tibetans living in exile and that the technologies developed in Auroville could be replicated in the different settlements and perhaps one day in Tibet. The detailed plans are being done by Auromode Architects under the supervision of Andre Hababou the Architect in charge of the construction. The technical aspects suggested by our other architect Aurosatprem have been incorporated. The engineering drawings for the size of the foundations and the pillars have already been calculated in Madras. 

One first task was to install a Solar System of twenty-five photo-voltaic cells, to provide water for the site during the time of the construction, specially for the curing of the mud bricks and the ferro-cement elements. On June 20th, we had a small function for the casting of the first pillar, led by two young Rimpoches from Mundgod. A group of Aurovilians and Tibetans from Pondicherry prayed for a smooth construction and completion of the building. Seeds blessed by the Nechung State Oracle were put in the foundation of each pillar. 

We are presently mainly working on the concreting of the pillars which will form the main structure of the building. The bases of all pillars have now been concreted and we are working on the tie beam. It is not the most spectacular phase of the construction, but it one of the most important ones as structurally the entire Pavilion will sit on these pillars. We should also remember that the grid of pillars has been placed according to the sketch of a traditional Tibetan Mandala. Even traditionally in Tibet, the numbers, position and design of the pillars were the most important factor in Tibetan architecture. Though the phase is a bit tedious and time consuming, we feel it is an important phase. 

The manufacture of the mud bricks began the day after the birthday of HH the Dalai Lama on July 6th. This part of the construction has gone very well, the 35000 compressed earth bricks (CEB) for the vaults have been finished and are ready for laying as soon as the structure of beams will be ready. The CEB for the walls are currently being manufactured and the team of seven local people is able to press some 850 CEBs every day. By the end of September, we are expecting the pressing of the CEBs for the walls to be completed. The Department of Home of the Central Tibetan Administration has now accepted to give a labor participation from the Tibetan community. It has been agreed that the five large settlements of South India will contribute five masons for a few months till the end of the first phase of construction (hopefully in January). The expenses of their stay will be borne by the Department of Home. It is highly symbolic, that the second pavilion after the Bharat Nivas (Indian Pavilion) is being built with the concrete help of nationals from its country. This Kar Seva is in the great tradition of public buildings in Ancient India and in Tibet being built with voluntary participation of the public. 

One worry remains the finances. We have now decided to complete as far as we could the first phase corresponding to the ground floor of the building. Nevertheless, the money available today will not be enough to complete this first phase. So we appeal to all the friends of Auroville and the Tibetans to help us contributing to the project or by putting us in contact with friends who could help us. 

Contributions for Auroville projects can be sent to the Sri Aurobindo Association or to AVI-USA. See the Center Listings section of the Integral Yoga Website for addresses. 
 
Or you can contribute directly. Send check payable to "Auroville Fund" to:

Claude Arpi, Pavilion of 
Tibetan Culture, Auroville INDIA 605101

 
Contents || Top || editor@collaboration.org