Revealing the inaugural 'Aranyani Pavilion' in New Delhi, a curving green-roofed structure that was designed by architecture studio T__M.space to host discussions on ecology. Named 'Sacred Nature', the spiralling, undulating pavilion opened in the Sunder Nursery park today, where it will remain until 20 February.
Sacred Nature Opened as the First Annual Aranyani Pavilion
It is the first annual Aranyani Pavilion commission, which was launched by nature restoration and arts organisation Aranyani to facilitate conversations on the environment. T__M.space created the fluidly shaped pavilion with a planted roof that rises and falls as it spirals round with the aim of connecting visitors with nature.
The curving form guides people to a large stone housed in an oval-shaped room at the center of the pavilion, aiming to evoke the feeling of walking through one of India's sacred groves, where stone markers have symbolic meaning. Indian design practice Ekarth Studio created this lattice room from Lantana camara, an invasive shrub in India that contributes to the deterioration of the country's forest ecosystems.
Over 40 Native Plants on the Roof
On the roof, over 40 native plants were planted, including those that are edible, medicinal, and hold cultural significance. By bringing invasive and native species into conversation, they hope to create space for local and international dialogue on how we might restore not only ecosystems, but the relationships that sustain them, as said by Aranyani founder, Tara Lal.
They are living through a moment where the distance between people and the natural world has never been greater, Lal continued. So many of today’s ecological crises are rooted in colonial histories and systems that separated communities from the land, from Indigenous knowledge, and from one another. The Aranyani Pavilion is an invitation to repair that rupture, to experience ecology not as an abstraction but as something people can walk through, feel, and belong to.
During its residency at Sunder Nursery, the pavilion will serve as a living cultural space, hosting performances, talks, and workshops that bring together artists, researchers, and local communities. These programs are intended to encourage dialogue around ecology, heritage, and collective care, allowing visitors to engage with the pavilion not only as an installation but as an active gathering place.
After this period, the structure will be permanently relocated to the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls’ School in Jaisalmer, where it will continue its educational and social purpose. The edible and medicinal plants cultivated on the roof will be shared with community-led environmental initiatives in Delhi, extending the project’s impact beyond the site and supporting local efforts toward sustainability and food knowledge.
Photos: Lokesh Dang
