The Sacred Grove - Sideburn Temple

The Sacred Grove is a collection of "trees" inside of which a temple clearing has been created to host mourning, tribute and connection at Sideburn. Before the language of religious structures supplanted them, sacred groves were common across global cultures, as places of healing. The Sacred Grove comprises 24 abstracted tree elements arranged in a 16-foot square grid, inside of which citizens of Sideburn are invited to wander through the space for both individual contemplation and collective gathering, to create meaning and memories.

Twenty-four "trees" that spring from the ground to 16 feet and form the primary structure of the grove. Made from stock lumber, they are clad in OSB for objects and offering placement. The temple will cast different shadows throughout the day depending on the sun's position. Visitors can experience the passing of time by following the shadows casted on the ground. The sacred grove can be entered anywhere along its perimeter from the openings in between the trees.

What is the Temple?

The Temple is a non-religious, non-denominational intentional space of contemplation, feeling, memory, processing, grieving, and/or letting go. It means something different to everyone who comes to it but is intended to offer a reflective space for the more difficult parts of being human together. The Temple is a container for ritualized connection and personal growth. Participants are encouraged to inscribe the walls of the temple with their stories, wishes, and losses, and to leave mementos of anything they wish to leave behind. The Temple is burned in silence at sunset on the last evening of Sideburn.

Client: Sideburn

Year: 2025

Location: Stone Mills, ON

Design Team: Sky Ece Ulusoy, design-lead