The Hidden Army Crafting Burning Man's Emotional Finale: Inside the Temple of the Deep

In a West Oakland warehouse, the sacred construction of Burning Man's 2025 temple, the Temple of the Deep, was underway, hidden amidst stacks of black wooden panels and the whine of drills. A whiteboard reminder read: "THE TEMPLE BURNS IN 35 DAYS."

This structure, second only to the Man at Burning Man, serves as a place for cathartic celebration and grief, where attendees leave tributes to loved ones before it burns on the final day. Designed by architect Miguel Arraiz García, the temple draws inspiration from the depths of grief, with its name reflecting this emotional depth.

Built with the help of 700 volunteers over months, the temple consists of 130 tons of wood, pre-assembled in segments and transported to the Black Rock Desert. Arraiz, who conceived the design during his own period of grief, aimed to create a space focused on Earth rather than the heavens, featuring a "vortex" for moonlight instead of traditional spires.

The design is inspired by the black volcanic rocks of the desert, with gaps in the panels reminiscent of kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing with gold—though here, the cracks are empty space, meant to glow golden only when set ablaze.

Arraiz, a professional architect from Valencia, Spain, was prompted to apply by friends during his grief. After being selected, he moved to California, leading the volunteer effort. The temple, now assembled on the playa, stands 44 feet tall and 105 feet wide, ready for its symbolic burn on August 31.

Growing up around Valencia's Las Fallas festival, which involves burning sculptures, Arraiz embraces the ephemeral nature of the temple, seeing beauty in its transformation to ash.