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"So far residential buildings in Auroville have been mostly provided by 'private enterprise' -individuals and families building accommodation for themselves according to their own resources, requirements and preferences. Matrimandir Worker's Camp and the Aspiration huts are the exceptions. As a result this aspect of Auroville's development seems to perpetuate old familiar social patterns, instead of leading us forward to new ones less dependent on 'personal property'. Perhaps it would be helpful to provide a different model for possible residential developments in Auroville -one which provides privacy and the possibility for very varied life-styles, but at the same time, by a complex of shared services, the chance to take a step towards a no-money economy."
This is the first paragraph from : Proposal for Community Housing in the Residential Zone of Auroville, by Helmut, written around 1987. Since then, the 'private enterprise' trend has continued, along with its accompanying individual or family-based lifestyle. The trend is a source of discontent to our town planners who see this kind of development as leading directly to the kind of suburban conditions so common in Indian or Western cities. But now suddenly plans for collective housing abound and some are actually underway. Let's look at what is happening in the area designated as the 'Residential Zone'.
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