William Netter                                                           Gallery

WHEN DID YOU COME TO AUROVILLE?
During a visit to Puerto Rico, I felt a strong intuition calling me to India and went for a 6 weeks tour with some humanity professors from the New York area. I joined not long after that.

BACKGROUND, OR SOME INFO ON YOUR TRAINING
I graduated from Georgetown University, joined a Jesuit Order, was involved with CBS Television, N.Y. and taught literature. I was running a steakhouse in Greenwich Village, NYC, and attended New York's School of Interior Design at night.
A lot of designers go thru a lot of formal training, but I backed into this kind of work. My whole life just lead to it.

SOME DESCRIPTION OF THE NATURE OF YOUR WORK
The Trilon House
The second house I built in Auroville, is the non-house. Two hexagons, a pyramid, a ship deck, spiral staircase, lots of triangle shapes, white ceramic tiles, inside-outside and, of course, all in white. The minimal connects with the consciousness. If my work is successful, I'd like people to pause and lower their voices. Comfort is not a big deal with me.

THROUGH YOUR WORK, WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO FIND, OR EXPRESS?
A quality of 'presence' found through the harmony of inner and outer spaces.

WHICH OF YOUR WORKS BEST EXPRESSES YOUR VISION, OR PHILOSOPHY?
1968:
Murray Weigel Hall at Fordham University in N.Y. Reviewed in the N.Y. Times and referred to as "monastic, 21st century".
1970:
Interior design for the central office building of the State Bank of India in Bombay.
1974:
Brief collaboration with Joe Stern in New Delhi at India International Centre.
1995:
Trilon House - Auroville

PLEASE GIVE SOME OVERVIEW OF THE EVOLUTION OF YOUR WORK, MILESTONES ON THE WAY
Milestones:
1. Minimalistic design in early works.
2. "Monastic 21st century" at Fordham
3. State Bank of India, Bombay
4. Trilon House, Auroville

williamnetter@auroville.org.in

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