Equilateral groined vault
At the request of the NGO Volontariat, the Auroville Earth Institute has been building a showroom in Pondicherry with the help of a local contractor, Mr. Kanu Mistry. Volontariat is a social organization doing voluntary work in Pondicherry for the most underprivileged people since more than 43 years. Among their social activities, they take care of the education of poor children from crèche to craft apprenticeship.
For many years, all the handicrafts done by these youth were not displayed at their advantage in a proper place. Therefore it was necessary to show the quality of these crafts in a suitable place. This showroom has been built in the premises of Shakti Vihar School, run by Volontariat and where a few handicrafts are being taught and done. This School had been built between 1992-1994 by the Auroville Earth Institute and Mr. Kanu Mistry.
For many years, all the handicrafts done by these youth were not displayed at their advantage in a proper place. Therefore it was necessary to show the quality of these crafts in a suitable place. This showroom has been built in the premises of Shakti Vihar School, run by Volontariat and where a few handicrafts are being taught and done. This School had been built between 1992-1994 by the Auroville Earth Institute and Mr. Kanu Mistry.
 Showroom at Shakti Vihar School | The concept for the roof of this showroom is based on an equilateral groined vault, so as to display these crafts in a beautiful and ample space. The foundations and walls were executed, early 2004, by the contractor Kanu Mistry. The vaulted structure has been built free spanning (without support) by the team of the Auroville Earth Institute in about 37 days by 6 to 8 masons. It was the occasion to train some local unemployed youth, labour and masons from Pondicherry area. The finishes were completed beginning of November 2004. The showroom has been inaugurated by Mme Madeleine De Blic, founder, soul and spirit of Volontariat, and Mr. Balakrishnan, heart surgeon who takes care of the children of Volontariat. |
 Laying the first courses |  Filling the earth concrete between the various courses |  Groined vault in progress |
 Laying a block in the groin |  Shaping a block for the bond pattern |  Placing a block in the corner |
 Horizontal courses rising |  Limit of the vertical courses |  Starting the vertical courses by steps |
 Block pattern to prepare the keystone |  Keystones laid on the vertical courses |  Building the vertical courses |
 Laying a keystone, with the slab on the side |  Adjusting a slab at the keystone |  Laying keystones |
 Adjusting a blocks at the groin |  Bond pattern at the groin |  Bond pattern at the groin with vertical and horizontal blocks |
 Laying horizontally a block at the groin |  Laying vertically a block at the groin |  Adjusting a vertical block at the groin |
 Bond pattern at the groin |  Bond pattern at the groin with vertical and horizontal blocks |  Filling earth concrete at the steps of the keystone |
 Groined vault near completion |  Complexity of the bond pattern with blocks and keystones |  Laying the last keystones |
 Groined vault completed in 37 days |  Groin vault with beams of the mezzanine |  Inside the showroom towards the staircase |
 View from the mezzanine |  View towards the staircase and mezzanine |  Mezzanine |
 Meeting with Mme Madeleine de Blic and handicrafts |  Display of handicrafts done by children |  Inauguration of the showroom |
