nomad studio's charred juniper ring marks the scar of a wildfire in northern spain

"In the burn scar left by the 2022 wildfire in Sabinares del Arlanza - La Yecla Natural Park, Spain, Nomad Studio places Socarrado, a circular structure built entirely from charred juniper trunks recovered after the blaze. First conceived for the Uncommissioned Exhibition by Novo Collective, the work becomes a point of collective reflection for the communities of Santo Domingo de Silos, transforming damaged terrain into a site of memory, refuge, and healing."

"The 15-meter-wide ring is assembled from blackened juniper trunks stacked concentrically, forming a dark perimeter that still bears the physical trace of fire. Their crowns extend outward across the terrain like the faint outline of a vanished forest, while the circular configuration recalls traditional Castilian enclosures once used to protect livestock. At the center, a three-meter-diameter cavity rises into a small vaulted chamber made from split trunks. A single opening at the apex allows a narrow shaft of light to pierce the dense timber mass."

"The vertical weight of the charred wood, the scent of resin, and the subdued lighting inside the structure create an atmosphere that borders on ritual. The space concentrates attention on the surrounding land's wounds while suggesting the possibility of renewal. 'Socarrado encourages visitors to be present, value authenticity, and restore their essential bond with the land,' notes Nomad Studio co-founder Laura Santín."

Nomad Studio constructed Socarrado in the burn scar of the 2022 wildfire at Sabinares del Arlanza - La Yecla Natural Park, Spain, using charred juniper trunks recovered after the blaze. The 15-meter ring of concentric blackened trunks recalls Castilian livestock enclosures while their crowns extend like a vanished forest. A three-meter central cavity forms a vaulted chamber pierced by a narrow shaft of light. The vertical weight, resin scent, and subdued interior light create a near-ritual atmosphere that concentrates attention on the landscape's wounds while suggesting renewal. Strong visitor response led Burgos authorities to retain the installation as a site of memory and refuge. Nomad Studio frames the work as a critique of digital distance and fragile ecologies.

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