Auroville Architects Monograph Series
PIERO & GLORIA CICIONESI
Authored by Mona Doctor-Pingel
2018
The Auroville Architects Monograph Series documents the pioneering work of the architects whose vision shaped Auroville, a unique international township in southeastern India. This monograph, the second in the series, is a comprehensive record of the work of Piero and Gloria Cicionesi, whose architectural legacy translates Auroville's philosophy of community living into built form. In 1968, plunged upon arrival into designing buildings on a barren red plateau, their deep engagement with the philosophy of Auroville resulted in the construction of several communal living spaces, with a spatial sense that is simple, modern and timeless. The Matrimandir, the spiritual heart of Auroville, was built and executed by Piero. Completed in 1992, it shows his mathematical genius and his sense of perfection and material detailing, sharpened in the democratic, collective milieu of Auroville. Gloria's projects such as the residential and community living spaces she designed, display her concerns about the comfort and security of an ageing population, as well as her willingness to experiment with newer, more sustainable materials. This publication brings together essays, drawings and photographs to demonstrate the elegant legacy of Piero and Gloria Cicionesi, for whom architecture was not only a search for beauty but also had a deeper social aspiration.
PUBLICATION INFORMATION
AUTHOR: Mona Doctor-Pingel
DESIGN: Sarayu Narasimhan and Gopal Limbad Mapin Design Studio
PUBLISHER: Mapin Publishing Pvt.Ltd
YEAR: 2018
LANGUAGE: English
CONTRIBUTORS: Poonam Verma Mascarenhas, Niharika Sanyal, Dr. Chamanlal Gupta, Poppo Pingel, and Pino Marchese
NUMBER OF PAGES: 204
ISBN: 978-9385360411