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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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Solarizing Carports
The parking or mobility transit hub will be covered by “carports” with solar panels as
roof cover. Carports are modern parking coverings that allow the transformation of a
traditional car/ bike park area into a ‘solarize’ car parking. An idle parking space is
converted into a ‘solar energy generating carport’. It serves the dual purpose of both
covering the vehicles and producing clean energy at the same time.
Mahindra Solarize is one such company in India that customizes and installs solar
carports. The Mobility Transit Hub of SSN has been designed to house carports for
both car and bike parking spaces.
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Carports in the South Gate
The parking or mobility transit hub of SSN are designed with
Solar Roofs facing the south for optimal solar harvesting.
A total of 90 car parking spaces and 420 bike parking spaces
have been provided for. 50% of these parking spaces will be
reserved for Aurovilians to park their personal-owned petrol
vehicles, and transit into Auroville only via e-bikes/ cycles or
buses.
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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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The first floor of South Gate Building
A is designed as open floor plans
with open cafes/ sushi bar kitchens.
Plenty of seating is given in both
indoor and outdoor settings.
Towards the windows overlooking
the atrium, are placed boutique
display racks, which can be seen
from the seating area below as well.
The whole first floor is designed with
a “Shop and Eat” concept, where
the cafe, boutique and seating area
open into each other seamlessly
and provide for a multi-faceted
experience.
South Gate - Building A - First Floor Plan
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Building A - Ground Floor Ambience - Arches
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Building A - Ground Floor - Open kitchens