Circular temple for the Burning Man. Wooden trusses and rings that filter the light

For the Burning Man 2020, the FR-EE Studio has designed a wooden temple, inspired by the ancient Greek word "holon", which means everything and part of everything. The project is illustrated in an ellipsoid that houses a smaller version of itself that serves as an altar

FR-EE's proposal is inspired by the ancient Greek word holon, referring to an object that is both complete and an integral part of a wider system. The temple thus takes the form of an oblong wooden ellipsoid that houses a smaller version of itself that serves as an altar. The altar itself contains an even smaller replica of the ellipsoid, creating a nested system of objects

To obtain the distinctive shape of the temple, the Studio has designed a system of wooden trusses that bend outwards and are reinforced by thirty-four horizontal circular membranes, one for each year of the Burning Man's existence. The trusses culminate in the last ring, number 35, which represents the 2020 edition. Reminiscent of the eye of the Pantheon, the final ring aims to exemplify the concept of millennial traditions of religious and spiritual architecture in the design of this contemporary temple

The internal structure is unclad and the design enables the complex system of trusses and wooden rings to define the interior as well. The spaces between the structural elements let in daylight, wind and sand which results in a space that immediately feels enclosed and interwoven with the surrounding landscape. While the structure becomes rooted to the ground, the horizontal rings widen to form benches that wrap around the perimeters of the interior and invite the "Burners" to gather, reflect and meditate

Taking the form of a circle, the temple floor focuses on the central altar and promotes a sense of aggregation. The unique geometry of the plane also refers to the traditional connotations of the circle as a symbol of unity and infinity. In line with the Burning Man tradition of leaving no trace, the temple is designed to be burned at the end of the week-long gathering. As part of this process, the design team have planned to plant the number of trees needed to counterbalance the amount of pollution that the burning could generate