HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I hope you all had an amazing beginning of 2011. I am thinking of you across the world!
This post will be short, because we are about to start our first class. I am so excited to start the program officially! SO far, we have been just relaxing, adjusting, and honestly seeing a lot of what the (more than expected) tourists of Auroville see. However, starting today, we will be touring around to different sites where people who live here are working on their own specific projects. Honestly, this place seems like an extended Burning Man- in the sense that people come here to realize their dreams that haven't necessarily been proven to work in "normal" society; however it doesn't matter here because it is all about experimentation and trying new things.
For instance, at the International pavilion here, we will be working with the family who lives here in their projects. They are planning to build two new buildings this year. However, let's talk about sustainability in practice: they are using compressed juice boxes for roofing, since juice boxes cannot be broken down and recycled. These "tetrafan" roof sheets have been invented by an Indian guy about 8 months ago. They are not time tested, but this group is going to try it.
In addition, for the concrete of the walls for the building, they are going to make it out of the usual ingredients: sand and cement, and instead of small pebbles, they are going to use the styrofoam waste of Auroville. This will make the concrete lighter, have more insulation, and be more soundproof. (Plus use this non-biodegradable material!)
For the floors of the buildings, they will use their recycled paper to make thick sheets of paper mache. This will make the floors flexible, which is good for a tall structure in the wind.
ANd one more awesome thing about this place: They have compostable toilets. We separate the pee from the poo, pour sawdust on the poo, and let it sit in barrels for 6 months, so it can turn itself to compost. Then it helps grow the trees and vegetable garden!
Needless to say, I am already amazed at the passion of these individuals who have taken their trade- architecture- and turned it into their own experiments!
And this is just the first place we have seen- I am so excited to visit the dozens of other endeavors and people behind them in the coming week.
Everyone here has this sparkle in their eye- they are doing just what they want to be doing, and it is so inspiring! What a playful and community oriented environment, to be supporting each other in all individual expressions of creative, sustainable invention.
That's all for now, I love you all dearly! I will write soon!
~NAMASTE~
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