Architecture portfolio - Internship at Sacred Groves, Auroville, Tamil Nadu, India

Internship Portfolio May ‘19 - October ‘19 - Nihara.B

About-

• Sacred Groves Project • Life at Sacred Groves • Idea of Sacred Groves

Works• • • • • •

Rain water Harvesting Tank Lime Chakki community Kitchen One Love House Flooring Earth Bag Dome

Research• • • •

Soil Test Making Adobe Lime Plastering Catenary Arch

Site Visits• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Golconde building Wall house Auromodele Luminosity Last school Pichandikulam Brick kiln International house Auroville botanical garden Progress community Maron farm house Mitra hostel Citadines

Sacred Groves Project There is requirement of affordable housing in Auroville which deters many good people from joining the community. The Sacred groves project came into picture to bring down the problem with the construction of 108 new homes for new comers, auroovilians and long term volunteers, in a manner consistent with mother’s vision for Auroville.

Sacred Groves is Basically engages itself in experimenting various types of techniques that would be concerned about the innovative usage of ecological materials rather than a sustainable ones, the idea of whole project is to be an ecological community living using ecologically sensitive construction methods.

This project is headed by Ar. Manu Gopalan, he believes in hands- on work : feel the materials, sense and mend them. the core of work, according to him, is togetherness. When communication is right, and hardwork certain, then quality of work is guaranteed. He has always encouraged students to experiment more which actually bring in lots of energy within our self and there is a “Build Free” platform where we can experiment and innovate any thing starting from research till it’s execution and experiencing it.

Sacred Groves is a community in Auroville, India. We strive continually to bring down the barriers between the earth and the now toxic building processes employed in modern times. We believe in an ecologically balanced and sustainable model of construction and have been researching on the endless possiblities in ecological development since our conception.

Life at Sacred Groves Sacred Circle we start our day after gathering in sacred circle where we begin with exercises, update each and everyone about the task which we are going to proceed with.

We celebrate all culturals festivals, organise activities within us which bond us more socially, a beautiful Family which always helped one another in any situations.

we chant “AUM” three times, in the end of every circle which is conducted before, after breakfast and before lunch.

After morning circle, we start with “Love Project” where we clean the site off from the waste or hazardous things lying around.

All the task are assigned as a Team work where we work with tons of energy, spread lots of energy within all of us such that all the physical efforts ends up with a positive output alongwith lots if fun because of which we enjoy the day even more. we also have task called ‘Hospitality’ where daily two of us would take care of everyone in site starting from providing water containers to remain hydrated, we serve tea, milk, juice, breakfast and lunch and also we help chef’s to clean up community kitchen and vessels as well

There are seperate “Learning Saturdays”, where we gather and discuss on various topics and do assignments to understand concepts easily which is guided by the Core Members.

We experiment and learn new skills under their guidance..lots of questions are put down where it goes like a debate on what are we exploring about...`

Idea of Sacred Groves Eco- Sensitive Community Many of the problems of Earth, Soul and Society are caused by the high- earning, high- pressure resulting in a lifestyle in the form of high carbon emitting individualistic living.

Instead we tend to provide a self sufficient as well as inter dependent and ecological way of living.

We aim to acheive this by providing low- cost, low- maintanence, off- grod ecological Housing by incorporating followi ng • • • • • • •

Energy self- sufficiency Water self- sufficiency Food self- sufficiency Preservation of Forests Passive cooling system nagate the use of AC Composting Toilets Encouraging community activities and interdependence.

WHY? By opting for a natural building over a conventional one, the architect tend to reduuce a lot of carbon emission into the atmosphere, making a Carbon Negative structure.

Rain Water Harvesting Tank The water tanks are one of the main aspects for being Self- sustainable. They are designed to collect rain water in tanks and simultaneously treat grey water above the tank. Rain water collected from each houses in collected in these 9 tanks which overflow from one another.

The tank has shell roof on top that supports Grey- water treatment system. The grey water from houses will be treated up

by EM (Effective Micro-organisms) that contains Bacteria.

These Bacteria convert dirt into nutrients.

Plants like Papaya, banana will absorb nutrients, absorb water and also help in cleaning up grey water.

The system is repeated at different levels and the leftover water is collected in the tenth tank to be used for gardening purpose.

It is basically in the form of Earthcrete over which Shot- creting on wire mesh was done while in few tanks it was done manually over which lime paster was done.

Dome Construction was also done by Shot-creting inside. there are actually two types • Dry mix Shot-crete (1) • Wet mix Shot-crete (2)

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2

Rain Water Harvesting Tank Lime Plastering 3:5 (lime : quarry dust) Ferrocement 1:3:4 (cement : quarry dust : jalli) Earthcrete, 1:9:18 (cement : Earth : construction waste)

• 1’ Wall of earthcrete is made in the ratio of 1:27 of cement and Demolished construction waste (broken into aggregates form) • A layer of Ferrocement of 5 cm thick using square mesh is been put on sides and bottom of wall where sides has a thin Cross- section compared to the bottom one as Bottom surface takes up more load.

• It is a mix of 1:3:4 of cement, quarry dust, jalli respectivel if it is a masonry work (easy to Spread Manually) orelse it is applied in the ratio of 1:2:4, if it is machinery work where mix is spead easily using Vibrators.

• Edges are made angular rather than being perpendicular so that force of water at bottom wont be pointed.

• Lime Plastering for other 5cm is thick applied above that so thatLime would help in purifying and also maintaining in PH level.

Wall section

Edges are curved (Load Distribution)

Depicting all the tanks

Shot- crete inside Dome Dome Construction

Lime Chakki It is an Ancient Traditional Technique of Grinding Lime that has been helping in creating many Ancient Marvels.

The Chakki is a Circular Pit of 5m diameter with a heavy circular grinding Stone pivoted at the centre. The grinding stone is pulled by Bullocks or Tractor untill the consistency is reached.

As of now, 2 types of mixes are been made • Lime Mortar - 3 : 5 of unsieved lime and quarry dust respectively.

• Lime Plastering - 3 : 5 of sieved lime and quarry dust (finest ones) respectively.

Kadukkai - Jaggery Solution Preperations • 18 Kgs of kadukkai is broken into smallers pieces in packed in bag.

• 20 Kgs of jaggery is taken in the tank of 700 litres of water.

• The bag is put in and allowed to ferment for 2 days.

• The fermented solution increses its strength but must be used within a month as they tend to reduce its strength if left for long period.

• It helps for Water proofing and strengthens.

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Procedure• 3-4 Batches of dry content is evenly spread throughtout the circular pit • Required amount of Kadukkai - Jaggery fermented solution is poured for the preferred consistency.

• Mixture is grinded well in chakki by Bulloks or Tractor for 150 - 200 rounds.

• The process continues till the miix reaches desired consistency equally throughout the circular pit.

• The mix is fermented for 2 weeks and then it is ready to use.

• Pour some Kadukkai - Jaggery Solution over the stored mix and cover it so that it doesn’t harden up.

Mixing Kadukkai - Jaggery Solution

Components - It’s Purpose • Binder - Lime, Kadukkai - Jaggery Fermented solution.

• Aggregate - Qyarry dust

Mixing the materials evenly

Filling up bonds to required ratio

Spreading materials evenly throughout

Passing mix with human chain to store.

Grinded well with Bullocks or Tractor.

Pour Kadukkai - Jaggery solution to required Consistency

Assignment- Soil

My idea was to observe soil composition in different heights rather than picking from diffrent areas.

So, I took 4 samples at 1’ difference in site (soil harvesting pit) and 2 samples from other place which were 150’ - 250’ deep.

The Properties of soil varies in different areas based on the composition of Sand, Silt and Clay.

Soil TestObjectiveTo procure and test soil from different areas (could be anywhere) in order to understand its composition and compatibility to various earth construction techniques.

The idea is to make any soil copatible for construction and be able to use the soil available in site.

Test- 1 Sedimentation Test

CLAY

• Soil samples are taken in a container with unfiorm geometry( usually , circle is preferred as force will be equal on all sides) • Add water in it and shake wekk such that they merge totally in water.

• Allow it to sediment till the water become very clear, minimun 24hrs is left undisturbed.

• Add a pinch of salt if it is very slow in process.

• Calculate the percentage of Clay, Silt and Sand of different samples.

SILT

ObservationSoil composition totally varies at different height though they have been diggen out from same place due to the difference in its formation and sedimentation also based on amount of minerals present.

SAND

Samples Site

Irumbai

At height (with reference to ground line) Top soil 1' 2' 3'6" 150' 250'

% of Clay % of Silt % of Sand 15.75 34.2 50 11.3 29.5 59.2 18.3 31.5 50.2 13.95 34 53.4 26 4

7 96

67 0

• Soil samples which has clay compostion of 10% to 25% are usually preferred for construction.

Drop Test • We did drop test to those which does not fit for construction and we added either aggregates or clay based on the composition.

• Drop test is basically we add water and make a ball of sample of fist size.

• We then drop it from a height of 3’ on a soft surface.

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4:1

4:1

4:1

2:1

Adobe were made, observed when it dries and recorded.

Observation -

I did Drop test for two samples (Irumbai samples)

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1:1

4:3

Depending on the extent of deformation or crack we experiment in different ratio by adding either sand or clay respectively. we add up or reduce the ratio to improve the stability of soil such that it would be suitable for construction.

Adobe bricks were made of these samples, it was done with the ratio concluded from the experiment, allowed it to dry and then noted the observation and concluded based on number of cracks and its compact form.

Research - Lime Plastering Aim- We could basically do research on any traditional technique in Tamil Nadu about which we study starting from its source till the reason of its extinction(if it is) and find solution of problems arised.

I did Research on “Lime Plastering” SourceLime was used as Mortar and for plastering around 6ooo years ago by Ancient Egyptians.

IT’s usage has resulted in lots of tremendous phase in Art and architecture that ended up as breathtaking records all over the world.

Lime is basically alkaline consits of calcium carbonate.

There are twp types of lime • Hydraulic lime - those forms of lime which contains lots of impurities.- Limestone.

• Non- Hydraulic lime - those forms which purely contains only calcium carbonate - Sea Shells.

Usually Non- hydraulic is used for decorative purpose and hydraulic for construction purpose.

Site visit in Irumbai near Auroville, more than 70 years old house, it is destructed due to no maintanence for more than 10 years... In this house it is clearly seen about how lime can was utilised , how and why it fails...

Lime plastering, includes Lime, sand, Additives.

Sometimes it varies from neighbouring places itself, based on information i got, within a area based on economy, availability, climatic conditions, skills, it has taken years to evolve and end with a particular type of proportion and technique, the way the add and do. fvf Few people said that in those days(18001900s), they make a square pit in the backyard of site area and make a mix of Lime with Sand in the ratio of 1:4 respectively and mix well and used fpr construction, they did not use any kind of additive with it.

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I met a Prof. Thirumalini (VIT, vellore) who did elaborative study on lime and stll doing it (14yrs and on), she explainedd that localites add additives based on the locally and easily available materials that would help in improving the techniques.

It is now almost not used up anywhere in urban context and slowly in rural areas, since cement has become an great marketing material in the sense of being fast and productive, people prefer to say it as Development in Technology.

4 Place

Additives Preferred

Tanjavur Chennai Karaikudi Nagarcoil Kerala Jammu and Kashmir North - East (mostly) Goa Rajasthan

Gooseberry, Kadukkai, Jaggery, Thanandhikai Kadukkai, Jaggery, Egg White Kaarai seeds, curd, Jaggery, Kadukkai Cocktail of herbs Mixture of 12 Herbs Undhanmali, Cotton Seeds, Pulamavu Vilvam Tree Products Vendhayam seeds Vendhayam seeds

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3

5

6 No. Scientific 1 Ribes uvacrispa 2 Trigonella foeum graecum 3 Aegle marmelos 4 Gossypium Hirsutum 5 Chebric Myroalan 6 Jaggery

Local Aranelli Vendha -yam Vilvam Cotton seeds Kadukkai Vellam

Community Kitchen

Drawings Rubble Trench Foundation Random Rubble Masonry Cob wall Adobe wall Earthcrete

DRAWING NAME- FLOOR PLANS

COMMUNITY KITCHEN

SHEET NO./ REVISION

01R2

NOTES: 1. THIS DRAWING IS ISSUED FOR APPROVAL PURPOSE AND SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSE.

1.0

0.9 1.0

UTILITY 1.0 0.8 1.0 0.8 4.3 3.6

0.8 0.9

3.7

COMMUNITY KITCHEN 0.9

PROJECTOR & INFORMAL WORKING AREA

2.7

UP

0.6

1.0

3.6 1.0

UP

0.7

STORAGE 0.9

0.9

1.0

COB OVEN ROCKET STOVE

0.6

0.7

1.9

STORAGE 3.2 1.2

A

LOUNGE

4.7

4.0

UP VOLUNTEER'S KITCHEN STORAGE

UP DOWN DOWN

UP

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

MEZZANINE FLOOR PLAN

AREA -60 SQ.M.

DRAWING TITLE : SG-01R2-COMMUNITY KITCHEN-FLOOR PLANS

DRAWING NO. : 01

PROJECT NAME : SACRED GROVES CO-HOUSING PROJECT, AUROVILLE

CLIENT : -

GENERAL NOTES : 1. ALL DIMENSIONS AND LEVELS ARE IN METER UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. 2.THESE DRAWINGS SHALL NOT BE SCALED. ONLY WRITTEN DIMENSIONS TO BE FOLLOWED. 3.THESE DRAWINGS SHALL BE USED FOR PRESENTATION PURPOSE ONLY, ANY DISCREPANCIES SHALL BE BROUGHT TO THE NOTICE OF THE ARCHITECT OR ENGINEER'S ATTENTION PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF WORK, FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE ABOVE WILL BE CONTRACTOR'S LIABILITY.

AREA -53 SQ.M.

PURPOSE : FOR APPROVAL

SCALE : 1:50

SHEET SIZE : A2

N

REVISION LOG : REV. NO.

DATE

R2

20-05-19

DECRIPTION COMMUNITY KITCHEN-FLOOR PLANS

DRAWN

CHECKED

DNYANESHWARI

MANU

DRAWING NAME-SECTIONS

ROOF TOP +6.65 m

COMMUNITY KITCHEN

SHEET NO./ REVISION

03R2

NOTES:

MEZZANINE FLOOR +2.85 m

ROOF TOP +6.65 m

LINTEL LEVEL +2.7 m

MEZZANINE FLOOR +2.85 m

PLINTH LEVEL +0.45 m ±0.00 m

GL

FOUNDATION LEVEL -0.3m

SECTION BB'

LINTEL LEVEL +2.7 m

PLINTH LEVEL +0.45 m ±0.00 m

GL

FOUNDATION LEVEL -0.3m

SECTION AA'

DRAWING TITLE : SG-01R2-COMMUNITY KITCHEN-SECTIONS

DRAWING NO. : 03

PROJECT NAME : SACRED GROVES CO-HOUSING PROJECT, AUROVILLE

CLIENT : -

GENERAL NOTES : 1. ALL DIMENSIONS AND LEVELS ARE IN METER UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. 2.THESE DRAWINGS SHALL NOT BE SCALED. ONLY WRITTEN DIMENSIONS TO BE FOLLOWED. 3.THESE DRAWINGS SHALL BE USED FOR PRESENTATION PURPOSE ONLY, ANY DISCREPANCIES SHALL BE BROUGHT TO THE NOTICE OF THE ARCHITECT OR ENGINEER'S ATTENTION PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF WORK, FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE ABOVE WILL BE CONTRACTOR'S LIABILITY.

PURPOSE : FOR APPROVAL

SCALE : 1:50

SHEET SIZE : A3

N

REVISION LOG : REV. NO.

DATE

R2

31-05-18

DECRIPTION COMMUNITY KITCHEN-SECTIONS

DRAWN MINKY

CHECKED MANU

Views

Rubble Trench Foundation

Levelling Pit

It is a “Dry Masonry Technique”, which allows the capillary action of water mainly rain water to move or enter into the ground such that water is not held up by the structural material within.

Rubble trench foundation is a traditional technique majorly used in white town, pondicherry.

Step- 1 After excavation, leveling the depth in a slope of 1:1 i.e. slope of 1” in 1 metre.

Step- 2 Rammed well based on the soil type, wet it, a layer of quarry dust over which waste lime is poured and rammed to maintain the slope.

Cob

Plinth Back filling

Ground line Rubble filling

Trench

Step- 3 Place the stone in a Trench form such that it does not move when we walk over it, if it moves adjust it using small stones such that it remains stable.

Step- 4 Fill in the sides of the trench such that size of stones reduces as we move towards the ground lineas it would help in good capillary action.

We make more than 1 outlet from slope if the building is big, which is sent out to a pit through pipe.

After covering Trench

Random Rubble Masonry • Above the rubble Trench Foundation, 3” depth is left with respect to Ground Line in which we mark the wall using Lime.

• We then tie a rope on ends, as reference, after checking with Water level.

• We bring Random cut Rubbles, check which would suit up there, based on that, we may cut some area (if needed) and place them.

• We used Lime mortar to bind them(it is unsieved mortar using Hydraulic Lime), lime mortar was made in the ratio of 1:3 of Lime(Hydraulic) and Quarry dust respectively.

Plinth Random Rubble Masonry

Cob Wall

Cob is one of the earliest or rudimentary construction technique.

Cob is a mixture of soil, sand (optional), fibre while adding water to bind them effectively.

Usually soil with 10% - 25% of clay is preferred for mud construction.

Step- 1 Add dry soil and sand (if required) and then add lime in the ratio of 10:1, It varies based on soil we use.

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Step- 2 Further, we mix it equally, form a conical shape with a down in centre such that it hold waters and all the lumps of soil found while dry mix are put in centre, water poured and stamped till it is mixed in a homogenous way.

Step- 3 Add fibres usually straws, spread it equally, while stamping slowly we should push the straws into the wet mix and flip and stamp and add straws till coonsistency is attained.

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Step- 4 Tests are done to check its consistency and it is made into lumps usually round or oval which would be comfortable to lay as wall.

Step- 5 After laying, we check it with refernce line and plumb bob, based on that the wall is levelled simultaneously.

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Laying and Tests for consistency Thumble - To merge cobs.

Tests For Consisitency• Drop Test- To check the nature of soil, consistency.

• Cigar Test- To check the amount of straws present in it.

• Crunch Test- To check theW enough aggregate (sand particles) in the mix.

Drop Test

LayingUsually, surface is made wet and then cob is throwed over constructing wall with a force such that it sticks with the previous layer and bind within.

To bind one cob ball with other ball thrown near it, we use Thumble to combine or fingers tips are used, we press the cob with tip such that they merge.

Cigar Test

Crunch Test

Stitching When the mud wall dries it tend to crack, usually they are surface cracks which does not affect the structural stability.

But as we rise walls sometimes cracks widen up and keeps widening, those are structural cracks, which must be repaired.

Crack formed Chiselled wall Cob wall Chiselled (other side)

The technique used here is called “Stichting”, where we chisel walls by 4”x8”x4” with a gap of 4”to each other , simultaneously on other side of wall is done in alternaative way, same like a pattern of Zip .

Seperate mould of 4”x 4” x 1”are made using which, adobe bricks are made, these adobe bricks are made with lime as a binder and the additives are rice husk and human hair as they would help in increasing tensile strength in a minute scale and resist cracking.

Crack

Placing adobe

Adobe bricks

Adobe Adobe bricks are essentially sun dried bricks made of earth and additives (if required).

Step- 1 Soil, Sand and additives are mixed dry.

Step- 2 Water is added and mixed by stamping to a soupy consistency.

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Step- 3 Wet the moulds, throw the mix in mould with some force such that each fills in edges and voids and then compact it with fingers and add on till the mould gets filled.

Various Additives• Coconut coir, straws - Increases tensile strength.

• Lime - Stabilizes brick, making it water resistant.

• Rice husk - Increases tensile strength and resistance to cracking • Juice of pricky pear cactus - Increases viscosity, inturn the strength of bricks.

• Human hair - Increases tensil strength • OthersEffective Micro-Organisms (for Fermentation).

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• Adobe Bricks are Fire- proof, durable, bio-degradable, non- toxic building material.

• Risk of extensive shrinkage and cracking is prevented.

• It has low emobied energy as compared to burnt bricks.

• It uses natural and readily available materials that can be found in mos places.

• Natural Properties of Mud are retained unlike in burnt bricks.

Mosque of Djenne, in mali around 900 years old extension is 112 years old.

Test for Tensile strength

Tests • Put hand inside the mud and when we take put, the mix should be held between fingers for seconds.

• Crunch Test - To check the Sand parricles.

• Test for Tensile Strength The required adobe bricks is bakanced between the ladder legs, a rope is tied at it’s centre and other end of rope is connected to weighing machine and further to a barrel in which water can be poured.

Water is added at a rate of 1Lt to time till the brick fails.

The compressive strength is accounted by the amountof Sand particles present in the soil

Adobe House in Taos, nearly 3,000 years old.

Yemen City, Multi- storey Adobe Building, strectches back over 3000 years ago.

Construction waste Waste Management has became a major issue in urban context.

Usually, large quantity of construction waste are generated. so if we look back as where is it dumped?, it is the Wetlands for which no one would question about, but the problem behind it is it affects the whole ecosystem cycle of the wetlands, including a fact that it does not help in penetration of water to recharge Aquifers or Ground water table.

The fast paced construction of cement has also made construction industry that consumes 60% of all the resources being consumed by the current human population, trying and finding different techniques for using this demolition has become crucial.

How do we use the demolition waste in Sacred Groves Project.

• Backfilling.

• Earthcrete.

• Foundation.

Earthcrete Earthcrete is a Up- cycling Process of demolished construction waste, increasing it’s value, one among the major issue in harming environment.

Earthcrete is a concrete mix of composed of cement, soil, aggregates in the ratio based on soil type, size of aggregates and structural element.

In Sacred Groves based on the soil compositon we apply ratio of 1: 9 :18 of cement, soil, aggregates respectively.

Step- 1 Mix the ratio in dry way equally and then add water and mix simultaneously.

Step- 2 Pour the mix and ramm it such that it fills in everywhere and level the surface.

Making a homogenous dry mix

Preperations for Mix.

Ramming the mix.

One Love House

Bamboo Roofing Limecrete Vault without Formwork

Walls are built with lots of ideas and experimentation in mudblocks, using different types of additives, experimentation here led to the conclusion of using Cob in Protoytype.p

Mezzanine Floor with seatings

Jute bagsare rolled up, dipped in lime putty, rolls are placed as flooring of mezzanine.

Plinth of stone masonry with a layer of glass bottles all around to prevent the scorpions entering inside

Bamboo Roofing The roof of “One Love House” is slopy in both directions..such that rain water collects in central path of roof and flows down towards one direction.

The idea was to experiment Limecrete over the roof, to take up the external loads, such that lime after getting harden it should not crack and split..we designed to have a split bamboo layer throughout so that roof moves alongwith the external load rather than being a rigid one.

We treated bamboo and split them, nailed in bamboo beams such that the nailing is not in straight line, nailed angular, towards the node.

Nailing

Limecrete

Shuttering Limecrete

Bed of Coconut coir sheet Over the layer of split - bamboo roofing, layer of coconut coir bed was put which was dipped in a diluted sea shell lime putty (slaked lime) such that when the limecrete is applied coir bed wont absorb lots of moisture and all the voids would be already filled with shell lime.

This coir bed helps in binding bamboo flooring and limecrete such that they take up external load alongwith its form.

It is a mixture of Lime and brick Waste in 1:4 ratio respectively.

• Lime- sieved stone lime in putty form.

• Brick waste- Broken to tiny bits these are waste bricks from Brick kiln waste (20% of their each kiln) mixed with Kadukkai - Jaggery Water.

Limecrete mix

Vault without Formwork Vault is actually supported by the side of the wall on which it is held. we used brick (Achi Kallu) of the size of 3”x 7” 1” which is binded with lime mortar mixed with Kadukkai- Jaggery Water.

Lime mortar is a mixture of Lime and Quarry dust in the ratio of 3:5 respectively. It is mixed well in Lime Chakki using Kadukkai - Jaggery Water to have a homogenous and well mixed component.

After placing each brick, we have to align it in all direction before it dries, it was a challenging one as lime dries faster.

Applyoing mortar

Placing Achi Kallu

Levelling Brick

Flooring - Cement based, Lime based Cement flooring is made as a platform for gathering. Whereas, Lime flooring is done to use for making adobe blocks as this flooring has tendency to take in moisture.

Lime Flooring A 2” layer of 8:3:7 rartio of red soil, quarry dust and lime respectively, though its a lime flooring water is used.

It results in cracks as they breathe, due to the presence of lime.

Cement Flooring A 2” thick layer of cement and quarry dust mix in the ratio of 1:30 respectively with ‘cement pal’ finish which was a beautiful art to end with.

Rammed demolished construction waste.

Earth Bag Dome

Lime wash Lime plastering Mud plastering Yellow clay paint Lohi flooring Mud flooring Araish flooring

Construction Pictures

Joinery Detail

Cross - section of Wall Bags composed of Earth : Quarry dust : Lime in the ratio of 2 : 1 : 1 respectively.

Applying Mud plastering

Procedure of Construction

Applying Lime Plastering over

Lime Plastering

Lime Plastering is a homogenos mix of Hydraulic lime (sieved) with the quarry dust in the ratio of 3:5 in lime chakki mixed using Kadukkai - Jaggery water.

• 15 bands of Lime mix is taken in which 1 litre of linseed oil is been added and mixed with Kadukkai - Jaggery water.

• Linseed oil is used for Water proofing of walls.

Lime wash

It is basically a final coat of Lime plastering.

Sea Shell Lime (slaked lime putty) - 1 band alongwith 1 litre of Cow urine and a handfull of rocksalt.

Here, Cow urine helps in binding lime with level code and in preventing Termites and rocksalt helps in binding of cow urine with lime putty.

Mud Plastering

Mud Plastering - Level Code Step- 1 Boil hot water, add maida after boiling, mix till they mix without lumps and forms a paste.

Step- 2 To 10 bands of Mud add 1.5 kg of maida mix and mix it well with water.

Step- 3 Sprinkle water on the dry surface on which the plaster is to be applied.

Step- 4 Apply with hand as thin as possible.

Yellow clay Paint

Sieving of clay

It is a organic paint, which can be easily done by any unskilled person. It is an art provoking our senses with patience.

Step- 1 Soak yellow clay in water, Sieve it in a finest filter.

Step- 2 Add required amount of Maida Paste (made by adding maida in boiling water) in the sieved clay.

• Maida paste helps in preventing water penetration.

Step- 3 Chip off the lime marks from wall (if any), as they wont bind with one another. vPaint it smoothly in one direction, apply 3-5 layers in different direction on different layers such that even minute voids in walls get filled with it.

preperations for applying Chipping off lime patches

Finished look

Traditional Techniques - Plastering

Lohi Flooring

Lohi Flooring or plastering in a beautiful traditional technique which requires lots of skill and patience.

• Brick powder and Sea Shell lime putty(slaked) is taken in the ratio of 1:1 and it is grinded in “Ammi Kal” using Kadukkai - Jaggery water or normal water till it attains smoothness such that when the paste is taken between the fingertips and rubbed, it just slips off from tip (not even minute granular particles) .

• The surface on which it is to be done is cleaned well and painted with the same mix(add Kadukkai - Jaggery water and make paste like paint).

• Apply this smooth paste for 2-3mm, level it with trovel.

• Allow it to dry for some time such that we can start polishing it using a technique called “Burnishing”, in which we take a small stone or pebble with a smooth surface and rub all over the surface to compact the plaster and after a while we put some soapstone powder or talcum powder over it evenly and rub again, while rubbing smoothly, at a point plaster starts to shine, Satisfaction found at that moment is always the Best.

Araish Flooring

It is a beautiful traditional Plastering technique involving lots of skills, energy and majorly patience, which we experimented in the form of flooring in Earth Bag Dome. it’s mix is made in the ratio of 1:1 of Sea shell Lime (slaked Lime) putty and Marble powder.

The procedure of applying it is same as lohi plastering.

Mud Flooring

Mixing Soaking

• Collect the soil which has a clay composition of 10% - 25% and soak it in water for a day such that all lumps melts down.

Applying

• Clean the surface and pour water and make the surface wet.

• Apply the mud over the surface, spread it using trowel.

• Level it using a plank.

• Dip sponge in water and squeeze it such that it contains very little amout of water,rub it over the surface to get a finished texture before it loses the consistency to work on.

• Apply wax over the surface such that it doesnot chip off.

Levelling

Finish

Lime wash

Lime Plastering

Yellow Clay Paint

Lohi Flooring Mud Flooring Araish Flooring

Wattle and Daub It is a beautiful art work, Wattle and daub is also a traditional technique, this is a type of Partition wall which can also be made as load bearing wall.

Filling in-between and applying over the Wattle by compacting, fibres in it hold them together.

Frame work - Usually they are preferred to be 3”x 3”.

Further, Size of panel is decided by the way we want .

IT is same like our skeleton and flesh..

In the technique, we firstly, weave the framewrk either with bamboo or nail palm reeds.

We sprinnle water over the wattle( skeleton - reeds / bamboo) and make cob mixture with more water consistency (consistency of adobe). we take cob mixture in a cigar shape, flatten it and hung the forst layer on the wattle and then next layers would be put in with a force that it sticks.

Framework

Mud Plastering is done, helps in more strength and hols the inner layer tightly.

Wattle

After this we compact it by pressing using fingertips, once it dries we apply 2 layers of Mud Plastering on it and level it.

Preferred inside as it has smooth finish

Daub

Preferred outside as it has sharp edges, peep in is not possible.

If Palm reeds are used, then at times, Daub is not required as the surfaces of reeds help out.

Daub - Filling and compacting Mud layer with fingertips.

Making of Wattle, weave or nail them with Frame

Making homogenous Dry Mix

Adding Water and Fibres simulatenously till we get required consistency.

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION DRAWING NAME

ALLESANDRA'S HOUSE RESIDENCE FLOOR PLANS

SHEET NO./ REVISION

01R0

TOILET 3.45sq.m.

1.44

FOYER 1.40sq.m.

2.71

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

BEDROOM 1 13.92sq.m.

BEDROOM 1 9.80sq.m.

4.95 1.18

2.69 1.20

3.25 0.70

1.20

1.55

LIVING & KITCHEN 15.65sq.m.

PLANTER

0.80

LVL+0.75 m

1.51

LVL+0.75m

UP

UP

COMMON COURTYARD GARDEN

1.00

CO-WORKING SPACE LVL +0.90M

LVL+0.75 m

1.01

LVL +0.00m

TOILET LVL +0.90M

+0.90m

LVL +0.00m

3.89 RAINWATER HARVESTING TANK

VERANDAH 28.70sq.m.

UP

LVL +0.00m

PROJECT NAME : SACRED GROVES CO-HOUSING PROJECT, AUROVILLE

DRAWING NO. : 01 CLIENT : MANI & SUANNE

GENERAL NOTES : 1. ALL DIMENSIONS AND LEVELS ARE IN METER UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. 2.THESE DRAWINGS SHALL NOT BE SCALED. ONLY WRITTEN DIMENSIONS TO BE FOLLOWED. 3.THESE DRAWINGS SHALL BE USED FOR APPROVAL PURPOSE ONLY, ANY DISCREPANCIES SHALL BE BROUGHT TO THE NOTICE OF THE ARCHITECT OR ENGINEER'S ATTENTION PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF WORK, FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE ABOVE WILL BE CONTRACTOR'S LIABILITY.

SCALE : 1:50

PURPOSE : FOR APPROVAL

SHEET SIZE : A3

N

REVISION LOG : REV. NO.

DATE

R1

03-10-19

DECRIPTION B.O.Q AND ROOF DESIGN

DRAWN

CHECKED

D:\Architecture\Sacred Groves intenship\Internship\cropped-SacredGroves2014_Logo.jpeg

Nihara.B

www.sacredgroves.in

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

DRAWING TITLE : AL-R0- SITE PLAN AND FLOOR PLAN

B.O.Q - 1

B.O.Q - 2