Graphical Practices for Fabrication-Driven Temporary Structures: The Burning Man Temple 2025 as an Integrated Design-to-Construction Case Study

Abstract

Ephemeral architecture developed under extre­me environmental and logistical conditions requi­res design methodologies capable of integrating spatial, structural, and constructional constraints within a unified and adaptable framework. This paper investigates the role of parametric geo­metric modelling as an operative infrastructure for the design and construction of ephemeral architecture, focusing on its capacity to mediate between design intent, technical resolution, and on-site assembly processes.

The study presents a parametric workflow deve­loped in Rhinoceros and Grasshopper and applied to the design and construction of an ephemeral architectural installation for the Burning Man Fe­stival. The proposed method integrates geome­tric consistency, material constraints, fabrication logic, and assembly sequencing within a single generative model, enabling continuous feedback between design decisions and construction requirements.

Through the analysis of the design process and the resulting built artifact, the paper demon­strates how parametric modelling can function not merely as a form-generation tool, but as a cognitive and operative structure that supports decision-making, coordination, and adaptabili­ty in contexts characterized by uncertainty and temporality. The results highlight the suitability of parametric geometric models for managing complexity in ephemeral architecture, particu­larly when conventional BIM-based workflows prove insufficient.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20365/disegnarecon.36.2026.2