ES. Congratulations on The Works receiving the Indo-French Year of Innovation Award for the Aranyani Pavilion project! Could you start by telling us about the project, inspiration behind the pavilion and how sustainability was integrated into every aspect of its design?
Guillaume Lecacheux. The pavilion is the architectural embodiment of biodiversity advocacy, led by Tara Lal of Aranyani Life. Her mission of forest regeneration inspired us to transform an invasive species, Lantana camara, into a high-performance architectural system. The collaboration was highly systemic: T_M Space shaped the artistic expression , Ekarth Studio engineered the load-bearing bamboo , and The Works International structured the execution. To ensure authentic material intelligence, we even sent our carpenters to a tribal community in Karnataka to learn traditional harvesting and weaving techniques. Ultimately, sustainability was integrated at the source; it is systemic, not cosmetic.
ES. The pavilion’s approach to modular design and disassembly is also groundbreaking. Could you explain how this design-for-disassembly principle works in practice?
Guillaume Lecacheux. Led by The Works International, design-for-disassembly was a strict operational strategy, not just a statement. The pavilion is a modular kit-of-parts using mechanical joints—bolted, clamped, and pinned; to ensure components can be catalogued and redeployed without degradation. A critical part of our methodology is rigorous R&D, specifically systematic off-site mock-ups and dry runs. By conducting workshop-based assembly testing, we validate structural loads and refine joinery before ever stepping on site. This dry testing avoids last-minute improvisation, reduces waste, and enables the incredibly fast deployment required for exhibition builds.
ES. The pavilion’s second life, as a desert school for girls in Rajasthan, is truly inspiring. How did this idea come about, and how does it align with your vision for sustainable architecture?
Guillaume Lecacheux. The concept of a second life was embedded from the very beginning, driven by Tara Lal’s commitment to conservation through education. Once dismantled, the structure will be reassembled in Rajasthan as a school for girls. This transition perfectly combines French time management and reuse-built logic with a deeply nature-centered Indian inspiration. We didn’t design a pavilion with a fixed lifespan; we created a transportable infrastructure. Structurally, it is engineered to
withstand desert temperatures approaching 49°C, reflecting our shared conviction that temporary architecture must generate durable social impact.
ES. What does receiving the Indo-French Year of Innovation Award mean for you and The Works?
Guillaume Lecacheux. “This recognition is particularly profound because 2026 has been officially defined as the Year of Franco-Indian Innovation, a partnership launched just this week by President Macron during his visit to India.
For our project to be selected for this honor means a lot to us, but it also sends a powerful message about the direction that global innovation should take. We believe that true innovation isn’t necessarily about reaching higher speeds or greater mechanical efficiency; it is about rethinking the human relationship to the environment.
This pavilion represents a move away from the ‘take-make-waste’ model of temporary architecture toward a model of ‘restore-build-reuse.’ It validates a multi-layered approach where European engineering rigor supports Indian ecological wisdom. It proves that the most innovative solutions of the 21st century will be those that heal our ecosystems while serving our communities.”
