Ruben Valdez Practice has designed Spiritual Enclosure, a non-religious ceremony space that exists in close dialogue with the surrounding landscape and sky of the South Baja California Desert in California, United States.

The intimate circular enclosure of this project sits semi-buried in the desert terrain, symbolising a relationship with the surrounding landscape, where bare earth underfoot and an open-air roof reinforce a transcendental connection to the earth and the cosmos.

The shape of the structure carefully frames the surrounding landscape, with a semi-circular aperture providing views out onto the mountains beyond, while the skies above are framed within the circular walls.

"The client envisioned a spiritual space where people of all faiths could pray, meditate, celebrate weddings, or host intimate gatherings," said Ruben Valdez Practice.

This project has been longlisted in the small project category of Dezeen Awards 2025.

Studio: Ruben Valdez Practice
Project: Spiritual Enclosure