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

Nomad Studio’s charred circle holds memory, loss, and rebirth

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. Its unexpected impact on visitors ultimately led local authorities in Burgos to keep the installation embedded in the landscape rather than dismantle it as originally planned.

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.

all images by Nomad, unless stated otherwise

a critical reflection on digital distance and fragile ecologies

Beyond the sculptural form of Socarrado, creative workshop Nomad Studio proposes a broader critique of how contemporary life distances people from their environments. The circle of burnt junipers becomes a counterpoint to a digital world that dilutes attention and distorts our sense of place. Its simplicity insists on pausing, focusing and reconnecting with what cannot be mediated by screens.

Residents, volunteers, local businesses, and partners participated directly in collecting material and assembling the work. Its realization was fully funded through collective contributions and supported by the Municipality of Santo Domingo de Silos, the Natural Park management, SOMACYL, Bombyte, and others.

In March 2026, the site will host ergo IGNIS, a performative action conceived by artist William Kingswood in collaboration with local performers. Designed as a ritual of awareness, the piece responds to the burned landscape and the communal energy that shaped Socarrado. After visiting the site, Kingswood described it as ‘a desolation, a return to nature, a refuge within a hostile landscape.’

Nomad Studio places Socarrado in the burn scar left by the 2022 wildfire in Sabinares del Arlanza, Spain