The Pangolin Shield, by Studio Saar and Atelier One, draws inspiration from the pangolin—the world’s most trafficked mammal—whose body is covered in protective scales from head to tail; the structure’s form invites visitors to reflect on the duality between vulnerability and protection.
The structure consists of a bamboo gridshell canopy clad in traditional Indian police shields (made of bamboo) and woven waterproof shields known as "knups," traditionally used by farmers in Northeast India, embracing complexity by uniting technology and craftsmanship.
The Pangolin Shield by Studio Saar + Atelier One. Photograph by Secure.
Layered like scales, the various shields are assembled to form a protective canopy that plays with light and shadow while offering collective shelter to the inner structure. By removing the police shields from their context of confrontation and state authority and integrating them into a functional symbiosis with the "knups," the installation seeks to disarm emblems of aggression and foster empathy and a sense of community.
Situated at Strand Aldwych—a pedestrianized street located behind the High Commission of India and near the bust of Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister—the installation invites reflection on colonial legacies and power dynamics between East and West.
The Pangolin Shield by Studio Saar + Atelier One. Photograph by Secure.
"I firmly believe in the power of bringing small things together, whether from a philosophical, political, or economic perspective." "This is consistently reflected in the work of Studio Saar, where often-overlooked materials are combined to create something greater, more powerful, and more impactful; the Pangolin Shield is precisely that. This installation fosters dialogue about craftsmanship, context, and the impact of colonial rule. I am deeply interested in exploring these enduring legacies that we need to discuss. I want to help raise awareness through curiosity and promote mutual understanding and reconciliation."
Ananya Singhal, Managing Partner at Studio Saar.
Construction process. The Pangolin Shield by Studio Saar + Atelier One.
"Nature has its own rules and follows them very effectively, having done so for 400 million years. We have been working with bamboo for a long time, and one of the challenges lies in how to join it to create forms in a replicable way. We have been developing these connectors through research and a deep understanding of the complex properties of this natural material. We have reached a point where technology allows us to work with nature’s quirks—those beautiful variations it presents—by using a series of connectors; it is exciting to continue exploring these possibilities through various projects around the world."
Neil Thomas, Founder and Director of Atelier One.
