"The wound is the place where the light enters you," said Sufi poet and philosopher Rumi. This sentiment captures the essence of the temple at Burning Man; a space where thousands gather to honour loss, process emotions and celebrate resilience. Since its inception, the temple has served as a sacred, non-denominational sanctuary, offering participants a place to leave tokens, photographs and memories of loved ones. The ritual of burning the temple marks a collective release fostering healing and reflection. This year it is conceived as the Temple of the Deep, designed and led by Miguel Arraiz, a Valencian architect whose work is deeply influenced by the Fallas festival. Much like Burning Man, Fallas celebrates impermanence and renewal through grandiose sculptures that are ultimately consumed by flames, uniting communities in symbolic release and reflection.

Standing as a monumental presence in black in the Nevada desert of the United States, the Temple of the Deep symbolises the interplay of strength and fragility. Its design is inspired by the volcanic landscape of the desert; featuring golden cracks across its surface, a nod to the Japanese art of Kintsugi. These visible scars celebrate imperfection as a source of growth and beauty. Measuring 44 feet tall and 105 feet in diameter, the temple structure invites participants to navigate an emotional journey through seven entrances, each representing a stage of grief. Inside, its radial symmetry and alcove shapes mirror the layout of Black Rock City, creating a space that fosters unity and connection.

"We gather under a symbolic rock, our heart and soul shattered into pieces. Through communal healing, these scars tell our journey, turning loss into peace and connection," Arraiz explains in the official release. The temple becomes a vessel for vulnerability, where emotions are welcomed rather than concealed. It emphasises the importance of radical acceptance, encouraging everyone to confront their pain and emerge stronger, at their own pace.

The structure draws on two key ideas. First, it returns to the origins of natural elements; a refuge, a cave, a mountain—spaces where humanity has historically sought solace and understanding. Second, beneath its raw, tectonic exterior lies a geometry that evokes Baroque elements, particularly in its treatment of movement and sightlines. This meeting between the primal and the intricate creates a thoughtful and immersive experience.

The temple's creation is a deeply personal endeavour for the Spanish architect. The massive black rock, fractured and pieced back together, serves as an autobiographical symbol of his journey through grief and healing. The design celebrates imperfection through its asymmetrical forms and textured surfaces, inviting viewers to see beauty in irregularity and spontaneity.

Arraiz leads the project with a growing team of collaborators, merging local and international creativity. Other key contributors include architects Javier Molinero and Javier Bono, along with Josep Martí and Arqueha, who helped shape the design and conceptualisation. Visual and sound artists such as Yousef Eid-Masheh, Radiante Light Art Studio and Ivan Llopis from Banjo Soundscapes bring additional expertise and dimension to the project, while graphic design is helmed by Democracia Estudio and supported by Fase Estudio. The craftsmanship of Fallas artisans Manolo Martín and Manolo García further connects the temple to Arraiz’s foundations in ephemeral art.

Preparation for the temple spans continents and communities. Prefabrication and logistics will be taking place in the San Francisco Bay Area over four to five months, involving 400 volunteers. The final phase of construction will see 200 individuals assemble the temple in the Black Rock Desert under extreme conditions over 15 days.

The ritual burning of the temple has been a cornerstone of the festival since American sculptor David Best created the first Burning Man Temple in 2000. Originally conceived as a one-time memorial for a friend, the temple quickly became a central part of the event. Over the years, its designs have evolved, offering increasingly meaningful spaces for participants to connect with their emotions. Last year’s Temple of Together, designed by New York and Oakland-based artist Caroline Ghosn with lead architect Maisa Sader represented a significant milestone in inclusivity as the first temple created by a BIPOC woman. The temple reflected themes of unity and collective resilience offering a luminous space to be seen, loved and inspired. This year, the structure adds another layer to this evolving tradition, blending Arraiz’s architectural expertise with his background in Fallas art.

Arraiz’s creative trajectory is reflected in his commitment to exploring the boundaries of art and architecture. His ability to craft immersive and impermanent spaces has laid the foundation for this project. As Burning Man’s Regional Contact for Valencia, he has spent 15 years creating large-scale installations for the Fallas festival. His 2016 collaboration with Pink Intruder on Renaixement exhibited in both Valencia and Black Rock City, highlighted parallels between Fallas and Burning Man’s ethos of creativity and impermanence. The pandemic further shaped his perspective, as he served as project director for World Design Capital Valencia in 2022.

The festival’s core values of inclusion, expression and community come alive through the temple where people from all walks of life connect and reflect. Its unique architecture and symbolism invite participants to be present in the moment and engage with each other in ways that transcend the everyday.

With the temple burning on August 31, 2025, it marks the closing of this year’s Burning Man. The fire serves as a poignant reminder of life’s transient nature and the beauty found in letting go, leaving behind only the memories and a renewed sense of purpose.