Five Aurecon engineers and a drafter have volunteered to develop a structural concept for a 6.3m high wooden temple that will be built in Christchurch only to be set on fire a couple of weeks after completion.

Inspired by the Burning Man Festival in Nevada, USA, the walls are left blank for people to write on, allowing them to release thoughts and emotions as it is burnt.

Hippathy Valentine, one of the driving forces behind the temple, said it is a public art installation, driven by the need for emotional healing in the city after the earthquakes that have shaken the city over the last two years.

“The structure, which is 6.3m high (the intensity of the earthquake was 6.3), 40m long and 25m wide is based on the seismic waveform of the main February 22nd earthquake, the most destructive of the earthquakes to hit Christchurch.

“We plan to open to the public in June on the site of the old Convention Centre on Peterborough St before being transferred outside of the city to be ceremonially burnt.

“We hope that people will share their earthquake experiences and use the temple as a catalyst for reflection on how the earthquakes have affected them, their city, and their communities.

“As people visit the temple they are encouraged to share their stories and experiences with others by adding to the walls of the temple. The act of writing out these stories and the emotions associated with them can be a cathartic experience, an opportunity to let go of the pain of the past and move forward more freely,” he said.

Luis Castillo, structural engineer for Aurecon, said that the structural design work required is right at the cutting edge of architecture for the new Christchurch.

“The project gives us the chance to ‘think outside the box’, to be creative while having a good grasp of the many technical issues that range from material properties to spatial vision. We created a balsa wood model to help crystalise our thinking.

“It also builds on our voluntary design work carried out on the extremely popular Blue Pallet Pavilion,” he said.

The project is being funded by donations and grants from supportive bodies, and construction will be carried out by a team of volunteers.