Transit Lounge

Transit Lounge is the name of a community in Auroville where a group of movable houses will be build.

Introduction

On friday April 15th 2011 l'Avenir d'Auroville presented the idea of a new community. It will only be for dis-mountable housing and they called it "Transit Lounge". Recordings of the event are on Auroville Radio website available[1] along with the slides of the presentation in PDF format[2]

Parameters and ideas

The Transit Lounge is seen as one of the interim solutions to the housing crisis affecting around 160+ Aurovillians and Newcomers (according to the recent housing survey). This project would aim to give people a breather by providing a low-cost dismountable house for a limited period of time -currently set as 2 years. This time would help people, get oriented to their permanent housing & work/community options in Auroville.

• The site is going to be designed to be used for a minimum period of 10 years.
• Consisting of dismountable houses (currently 8 different types).
• The residents would be encouraged to stay there for a period of 2 years, with the possibility to extend their stay for 1 more year if a new house for them is under construction.
• The project will have a large centrally located Common House with shared kitchens/dining areas and ample number of bathroom/toilets. There will be (compost) toilets near clusters of units. Family units could have (compost) toilets in or near the unit. Otherwise the idea is to have 2 units sharing one toilet, so that the distances are not too far. Showers will be close to the toilets. There will be some water flushing toilets in the Common House for comfort value and for the purpose of use of guests.
• Kitchens, there could be 8 – 10 people sharing one “kitchen” space. It can be that 4 – 5 “kitchens” are located in the same buildings, but there also needs to be the possibility of smaller groups using a kitchen.
• Dining space / common space can be shared by everyone. - Lounge and internet, the common dining / kitchen space will also be designed to provide a lounge area and internet connection for common use. - In the Common House there would be a lockable container space to be used as an office/library where people keep their computers and other valuables in safe lockable drawers. Another room in this space would work as the music room.

Finance

The finance of the common infrastructure is being discussed, the ideas so far are:

• Totally pre-financed by Auroville, with the inhabitants contributing a monthly rent towards the common infrastructure for paying off the infrastructure over the entire period (10 years) of the project and maintenance.
• The inhabitants share the cost of the common infrastructure and transfer their part to the next inhabitant when they move to a permanent dwelling.
• Other ideas could be looked into.
• The site plan will be designed as an output of a site-planning skill-share which would be facilitated by the by a team at L’avenir with support from EartHauz and other interested architects.

• Community spaces would be designed to be used by individuals, families or the group of residents.
• Units would be designed to avoid noise disturbance to neighbors
• Address private and semi private spaces as in the orientation of covered terraces and garden spaces.
• Address sight protection from the road, common areas and neighbors.
• Kitchen should be fire, ant, bug and mosquito proof.

Other parameters

The site will be for up to 30 units (min. 15 initially) which can accommodate 40 – 60 people.

The Transit Lounge project is a transition / mobile housing site, meaning that the site is temporary, thus no permanent houses will be built on the location for the next 10 – 15 years.

The houses are dismountable not to save cost, but to keep the character of the project temporary. The houses have to be dismountable in order to open this site for the period of the project. Dismountable houses are not unmovable assets of Auroville, and can therefore be treated differently in terms of building application and funding.

It could be considered to also keep the common infrastructure dismountable so that when the time comes, everything can be moved to a new location. When an inhabitant wants to move to a new location, there are 2 options for what can be done. Either the person gets the value of the unit (minus the depreciation over time) forwarded to his permanent house or the whole unit can be dismounted and taken to a new (permanent) location.

Other common and shared infrastructures

• Mini-office & locker drawers,  
• Laundry (6 – 10 pers. / machine)
• Storeroom
• Solid waste
• Parking
• Gardens / landscaping

Designs

Temporary Houses

Few houses are presented here, but in the first presentation by Manu for l'Avenir d'Auroville there were more. They will appear here too. 

Rolf / Balu Bamboo Design

Designers: Rolf Kalabhumi / Balu

Contact: Rolf: +91 413 2623690 / Balu: +91 9943646822 & +91 413 2623193

Email: aurovillebamboocentre@auroville.org.in; rolfartist@auroville.org.in

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Size Interior: 12 sqm

Amenities: One Room

Cost: 1.2 lac Cost per sqm: Rs.10,000

Time frame to complete: 3 weeks (two units can be completed in 1 month)

Materials used: Bamboo, bolts, nylon canvas (roofing), Can also do model in mud brick and bamboo.

Dismountable: Yes - can be carried and assembled on spot.

What support do you need? - Orders for the product.

Others: Existing unit in Verite (Guest house opp Bhavana's) Bamboo is treated so that it will not deteriorate. The feeling of the space is wonderful and light. Bamboo is highly sustainable. Bamboo absorbs 28% more CO2 than any other plants.

Container Homes:

Designers Name: Several Chennai based companies / Earthauz

Contact: +91 9884070167

Email: imrenterprises10@gmail.com

Interior size: modular: 20ft or 40 ft long, 8.5 or 9 ft high and 8ft wide.

Cost: 40ft: 2.6 to 3.8 lacs Cost per sqm: Rs.9,500 to 12,800 sqm

Price includes: 6 windows and grills, 1 door. Styrofoam concrete / PVC inner coat, flooring, fans, lights, plud & phone points, fully painted.

Time frame to complete: 2 weeks from order

Materials used: shipping container

Dismountable: Yes

Advantages:

• Fast movable option
• Very versatile secure multiple floors can be stacked 10 high and take 28 tonnes of weight
• Cortlen steel is non corrusive and 75% stronger than normal steel.
• Earth quake resistant.
• Can buy with minimum finishing. Successfully implemented in many cities such as London, Amsterdam, Coke park Scotland.
• Manu, architect living American pavilion is very experience with container homes and is interested in helping source and bring to Auroville.

Disadvantages:

Steel absorbs sun need to insulate therefore needs to be at least 9.6 ft high (not Indian standard). Come insulated but can also use trellis of plants for shase and place off ground on the concrete blocks.

Satprem Maini - Earth Institute:

Designers: Satprem Maini / Tesia

Contact: +91 413 2623064 / 2623330

Email: earthinstitute@auroville.org.in

Interior size: 30 sqm caretaker unit.

Amenities: Toilet and bathroom, bed room, platform in a corner for a kitchenette waster system.

Total cost: Rs.2,08,908 with a soloar system + waste water system, now costs Rs. 3.5 lacs

Cost per sqm: Rs.6,964 per sqm in Feb 2008.

Time frame to complete: 3 - 4 weeks for precasting and 64 hours to built it with about 6 masons

Materials used: CSEB for the walls and ferrocement roof

Dismountable: Yes

Other details:

• Time frame on realisation - started July 2009 have produced 5 houses to date. 7 extra apartments will be complete by July 2011. therefore it has taken 2 years for 12 units.
• Labour cost - rising.

Sigi - conceptual Study:

Designer's Name: Sigi

Contact: +91 413 2622938

Email: sigi@auroville.org.in

Total Cost: Rs.95,000 - without bathroom and infrastructure.

Cost per sqm: Rs.4,000

Time frame to complete: 3 months if crew and organisation is good.

Materials used: timber, reapers, roof / wall sheets, gibson board, brick floor, glass, mesh

Roof: sheet metal + insulation - false ceiling therefore no need for ventilation.

Base: Concrete beams srewed together filled with sand and cadapa stone on top.

Walls: bibson board inside, sheet metal ormud panels outside. another alternative is wall panels of reinforce red soil.

Can also make in precast or prefabricated.

Dismountable: Yes

Support: Funding to complete a model house. sigi and Volker would like to build a model.

Alok

Designers' Name: Alok - Auroshilpam

Contact: Ph: +91 9443728734 Email: alok@auroville.org.in

Interior Size: 17 sqm

Costs: Less than 1 lac Cost per sqm: Rs.6000 per sqm

Alok and Sathyavan are working on a dismountable prototype based on Johnny's design with angle iron, plywood, keet, cement legs and mesh.

Alok has a site for six housing models with water and electrics close by.

He would like to attract people who are interested in working on housing and have this site as a living research centre.

Auzolan

Designer's Name: Eric

Contact: Ph: +91 9443362291 Email: reboul@auroville.org.in/ auzolan@auroville.org.in

Interior Size: Available in a variety of sizes, for eg: single - 18 sqm / family - 54 sqm.

Amenities: As its modular, size and amenities can be added to residence choice.

Costs: 2.7 lacs to 7 lacs Cost per metre: Rs.10,000 - 15,000

Time frame to complete: 2-3 weeks, Family unit - 1 month. Can produce 15 family units in a year.

Materials used: durable, dismantable, light-weight, thermal properties:

• Exposed precast concrete frame and foundations: Long life, low maintanence.
• Floor: Kadapa stones (dry fixed)
• Walls: ready made interlocking insulated panels
• Ceiling and overhanf panels: Calcium Silicate board (light weight panels, waterproof)
• Mounting parts, clamps, lintels: Galvanized steel
• Roofs: white corrugated steel sheet (Zinc aluminium coated)

Dismountable: YES, all materials but heavy, needs crane.

Advantages:

• Off ground so good ventiliation, less humidity & insects.
• Fast, safe and cost effective. The production is 3 to 4 times faster than standard housing. One house of 3 modules for a couple with bathroom and kitchen can be built in 2 to 3 weeks. the fabrication takes time (4 modules / 72 sq m per month at the moment).
• We are about to introduce a 1st floor, which will give more dynamics to the architecture, increase the density and reduce the costs.

Johnny

Designers Name: Johnny

Contact: Ph: +91 413 2622390

email: johnnyauroville@gmail.com

Interior size: 12 sq meters

Amenties: One room with terrace

Cost: 1 lac - Rs.50,000 for materials / Rs.50,000 for labour. Cost per sq.meters: 8,333 sqrs.

Time frame to complete: One day to erect once all materials are present.

Materails used: Galvanized iron pipes, Wood, Bison board for structure, Wood louves and mosquito mesh on sides. Structure off ground on concrete pillars and plates.

Others: 1. Julia's house, 70 sq metres was 6 lac. Wattle and 2-3 layers mud, euculyptus and split bamboo. 2. Julia's house could be made on a base of 6 8 4 metres if want to be dismountable.

Peter A's design: "Beyond Johnny"

Designers: Peter A, Luminosity

Contact: Ph: +91 413 2622656 / +91 9488483348 Email: peter@auroville.org.in

Size interior: 15 sqm

Amenties: One room

Cost overall: 1 lac spprox. Cost per sqm: Rs.7,000 sqm

Time frame to complete: One month once prototype is established.

Materials used: Structural system allows for many materials to be used.

• Frame: Steel or timber frame
• Roof: Metal sheet or fibre glass
• Floor: bison board, Bamboo
• Extras: Mesh and glass louvers.
• Also: Light weight, prefab, modular structure, allows for many applications depending on finance and manpower.

Ajay's Living Home

Designer's Name: Ajay Nityananda

Contact: +919626481686 Email: ajnit@yahoo.com

 

  

Size: 125 sq.ft (modular and repeatable)

Cost: Rs. 1.5 - 2 lacs

Timeframe to complete: 6 weeks after all material is sourced and treated.

Materials used: Concrete foundations, Eucalyptus and kalimadu wood, bamboo, mud, cow dung and straw roofing.

The home featured in the photo includes kitchen, living room and sleeping spaces with a beautiful toilet, attached by a bamboo and wood bridge, that crosses a sunken pool. The two main structures look out on a courtyard area with fitted seating. All structures are made of natural materials. Ajay has designed a smaller prototype (see size and cost details above) for the Transit Lounge which would be suitable for self build. While the structure is not dis-mountable it is dismantable. Pre-fabrication time would approximately be 4 weeks and Erection time would be approximately 2 weeks after all material is sourced and treated.

Temporary common infrastructures

Designs for common infrastructures are being worked on by Many's team in International House.

Joining

If you want to join this project contact l'Avenir d'Auroville as soon as possible. During April and May 2011 there will be all kinds of meetings of people who want to join in this experiment and there's still room for more. The running time of this project is rather short, planning is to have first houses ready in August 2011.

See also

Auroville Radio:

The Small De-Mountable House - interview with Johnny about his design

Dis-mountable Housing - recording of the presentation on friday April 15th 2011.

Transit Houding - Interview with Dorle and Manu about the project

Transit Lounge, volunteers - In "today's news" a short report on Wednesday May 04th 2011 meeting behind Courage community where the actual site of this kind of temporary community should be.

News and Notes:

News & Notes number 392, 9 April 2011 - Contains invitation for Dis-mountable housing project meeting of April 15th 2011.