Rationshop / Post-Office

for Auroville Foundation

Completed (2015)

This project is a result of the Auroville Foundation approaching an encroachment issue by addressing the need of a growing village whilst recovering a portion of the land. This was achieved by a collaboration with the local Panchayat, and proposing a needed sub-post office and ration shop for the village of Moratandi, in exchange for recovering some parts of the land.

The design is questioning the functioning and quality of common ration shops and inspires a new approach towards these mostly overlooked buildings.

Importance has been given to maximised natural ventilation and light, transparency for customers, and clear circulation without compromising the required safety aspects.

We have taken the waiting customers into the building with a wide corridor space to protect them from rain and sun. Large open counters allow absolute transparency in the ration shop.

The back of the building serves as shaded outdoor seating for the children of the neighboring school.

The aim was to provide the best possible quality of space and experience for the underprivileged part of society, through architecture that embraces its users.

The building strives to take vernacular elements and use them in a contemporary fashion, where only the material itself creates texture and decoration.

The walls are made of compressed stabilized earth blocks which are exposed in elevation for a subtle blending with the surrounding buildings and greenery.

The doors are made of recycled wood and the floors are laid with kadapa stone and terracotta inlays. The other facade elements, granite and ferro-cement jalis, are inspired by the local village context.

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