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South Gate, Auroville

A Mobility & Transit Hub Project

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Auroville Mobility

The Auroville Master Plan, in its “goals and objectives”

concerning traffic states: “Determining the hierarchy of

roads and access ways, particularly emphasising where

non-polluting movement should take precedence over

general traffic.” Based on the Master Plan‘s general

considerations on traffic, especially the aim of giving

preference to non-polluting movement, a network of roads

and pathways has been proposed - The Crown containing

the city center, the Radials connecting to the Outer Ring

Road and the Outer Ring Road containing the city.

Auroville aims to be completely motor-vehicle free,

however, in phases progressively from the city center

outward.

At the four junctions of the four entrances into the four

zones of Auroville, there are planned Secondary Service

Nodes. The main function of these nodes is to act as

mobility transit zones, where visitors and residents will

switch from fossil-fuel vehicles to e-vehicles or

non-polluting mode of transport or public transport. A

shuttle bus system will have to be put into place to

effectuate the transition.

The Southern Service Node (SSN) or South Gate has now

been developed as the first of the four secondary service

nodes that will model this mobility and transit hub.

SOUTHERN SERVICE

NODE / SOUTH GATE

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South Gate - campus layout

The layout of the Southern Service

Node or South Gate aims to make this

the formal entrance into Auroville on

the Residential Zone side. The current

entrance via the Certitude poramboke

will need to be closed to effectuate

this controlled entry.

The campus is designed with a

parking/ mobility transit hub, a bus

access and bus stand with a waiting

area, existing buildings integrated into

future developments, of which the first

phase will include a Food Court

building including a store, an info and

e-vehicle rental desk. Along with this,

in the building is included a space for

Swiggy/ Parcel delivery office, which

contributes to a large portion of

Auroville’s motorized traffic today.

With FAMC these services will have to

be formalized, and Aurovilians who

order food or goods will need to pick

them up from the pick-up point, and

no longer be able to receive the items

at doorstep.

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South Gate - Building A

Building A will be the first building in the South Gate and will house kitchens/ food court, boutiques, a store, an e-vehicle rental and info desk and a

Swiggy/ Parcel delivery and toilets. The parking space will serve visitors who seek to experience Auroville food and outlets. Those who want a deeper

experience will be channeled into the Visitor’s Center area.

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The aim of the South Gate Building A is to bring together the Auroville Eateries and boutiques which are sprawled in the Kuyilpalayam road and release

this village road of traffic caused by heavy inflow of visitors’ to Auroville. For Residents too this South Gate Building A will provide a selection of meals

within the Auroville Lunch Scheme, the store will provide some shopping possibilities for those Residents who are entering or leaving Auroville. The

E–vehicle desk is for both Aurovilians and visitors to have access to all e-vehicle rental services of Auroville from one spot.

South Gate - Building A - Atrium

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The South Gate Building A has its

main entrance in the south,

overlooking a grove on TDEF trees

in its north. The building on the

ground floor is enveloped by a

series of arcades which serve partly

as a shaded walkway in front of the

services, and provide a replicable

architectural language for future

buildings to connect the campus.

The C-shaped building encloses a

central atrium covered by a

light-weight and translucent tensile

roofing on the first floor roof level,

providing a different ambience for

the seating below.

The concept of the kitchens is like a

food court, with semi-open or fully

open kitchens that overlook the

seating area. The kitchens have

their staff access from the service

corridor behind.

A display/ counter for placing order

is designed towards the seating

area.

South Gate - Building A - Ground Floor Plan

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Building A - Ground Floor Ambience - Arches

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Building A - Ground Floor - Open kitchens

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Building A - First Floor Ambience - Open cafe & boutiques