Highly commended: Small building of the year 2019. Galaxia is a spiralling wooden pavilion that was the main temple at Burning Man festival 2018 in the Black Rock City desert, before being set on fire.
The timber lattice structure has 20 trusses designed to look like petals, which lean on each other and spiral up towards the sky around a central oculus. The triangular trusses created small alcoves and paths into the centre of the secular temple, where a giant 3D-printed mandala was placed. The design, by Arthur Mamou-Mani of London-based Mamou-Mani Architects, was built by 140 volunteers in 22 days after being selected by the Burning Man Arts organisation, which oversees the creative programme. The pavilion was sent up in flames at the end of the annual nine-day festival in the Nevada desert.
Architect: Mamou-Mani
Project: Galaxia
Highly commended for: Small building
Read more: Arthur Mamou-Mani