How this EVENT became a CITY (BURNING MAN) 

Eco-friendly event where people buy disposable bikes to throw them away and get back home with airplane :)

Imagine this but specifically for architects and city planners. You'll be able to do a small scale test run on layout concepts without government red tape and all that crap. I feel like there's sim engines for that but the human element would provide a ton of insight you might miss otherwise.

One big criticism of Burning Man that I don't hear discussed enough is how artificial it is. For the week long event, it is leave no trace, as soon as people leave Black Rock City though, it is a free for all to see who can leave the biggest mess in the surrounding communities. I've seen places have to hire guards to stop Burners from just dumping all their trash and leaving the local property owner to clean it up. My husband used to work at a U-Haul in Sparks NV and burners would routinely return their trucks (which, technically weren't supposed to be taken to Burning Man in the first place according to their rental contract) completely full of trash, one time with trash that was literally a smoldering fire. For the week long event, it is about radical inclusivity, but as soon as participants leave and go home, they are still the type of people who show up to town hall meetings to oppose affordable housing being built in their community. For locals in Northern Nevada, the event has become the one week a year that wealthy Silicon Valley types can come and cosplay as egalitarian and eco friendly people before making a mess and going right back to what they were doing before Burning Man, so full of confidence that because they pretended for a week, they don't have to worry about the next 51 weeks of the year. It's a shame, because a lot of us who have lived here our whole lives remember when it truly was a place for people who truly believed in the mission and vision of Burning Man who used the event as a way to experiment on how they could apply those values and would go home genuinely changed by the experience and try to do better. It would be great if it could go back to that again.

My late husband was obsessed with Burning Man, and we participated from 1994 to 2002, the year he died. It was smaller and much less regulated in the 90s. There was almost no crowd control. I remember many times when what we were doing would not have been considered "safe" at all. Gar from it. One year, Bob got the idea of bringing a truckfull of hay bales to set up as a climbing and sitting area. Of course, people tried to set it on fire. He had to guard it almost constantly. Another year, we brought a huge tent, which I had sewn from scratch on my smallish sewing machine. Burning Man IS another world in itself.

The problem I see with "participation" in burning man vs real life is: Population selection & time frame. 1) This population is self selected as a population that wants to contribute and participate in this given framework. In real life people have a lot going on. Like sure, I could shovel my disabled neighbors driveway... right after I go to work, clean the house, drop off/pick up kids from school, balance the budget, drop off/pick up the kids from an activity, do my workout, finish grocery shopping/cooking 2) Time frame is 9 days vs forever. I can get along with anyone for 9 days. A lifetime? Ehh no. I can also contribute SIGNIFICANTLY more resources/time/effort into a 9 day project (I can give it 110%). Could I maintain that for even 6 months? No. Im assuming everyone else has those same limitations

I can’t imagine having your job. Basically it sounds like your job is the absolute pinnacle of “one accident ruins it for the rest of us” such as when one person in a company does something reeeeeally dumb, policies are changed and the rest of the employees suffer. You make all of these types of things surrounding buildings and cities so much more understandable with your videos so thank you for that!!

Something I don't see talked about much, other than among friends, is the gifting rule is great but as more people attend, it has created wealthy zones within Burning Man. From feedback from friends who attended who are on opposite sides of financial status, the wealthy, or Group B, create their own camps and stay within those communities mostly with their own activities. They still participate outside of their camps at times but gift almost solely within their communities. They've said they've had too many experiences year after year of people who don't prepare anything to gift or even sustain themselves and expect "handouts" from them. Friends from Group A usually complain that Group B breaks the foundation rules by going by the wording and not the intention. They say that it doesn't matter if Burners come unprepared. If you can share you should share though not to the detriment of your own survival. Group A usually complains about how Group B generally bring much more "stuff" and waste to keep their luxury camps going. I mean I've had friends in the luxury camps bring generators for AC within their camps and have excess perishables by the end of the trip due to overpacking which they could have gifted to others but didn't. I just think it's interesting that as Burning Man grows, it has started to create its own economic segregation in their "camps" and how Burning Man allows it since the luxury camps also need approval since they are usually placed near each other.

The way the houses is lined up looks exactly like something out off a sci-fi movie

We have Glastonbury festival here in the UK. It has around 150k people attending it. These temporary towns are little functioning marvels. It is the human interaction element which makes these projects work in functionality and ascetically. Without human input they would just be faceless refugee camps. This applies to city and towns architectural layouts too. When its public accessible then that said public needs to have their input. It makes them part of the environment and therefore they would respect it better. Having things forced upon us is not a good way for city planning or architecture to pursue.

I love what you are saying here. I'd also be very interested to hear your thoughts around this after you go to Burning Man. One of the years I went I attended a workshop by an organization called City Repair, who was based out of Portland, Oregon who covered some of the topics you did but also talked about lessons Black Rock City can teach about how city planning and layout can help better foster community.

As a builder, this is the best Architectural presentation I have ever listened to. It's shocking how difficult government zoning and regulation has made the design and building process. Government has crushed the creative Spirit, and yet, you explained the situation with grace, dignity, and a smile on your beautiful face, thank you.

I wish in my Urban Planning curriculum 9 days at Burning Man was included. I have a friend just a few blocks from me who has gone every year since it started. But your video gave me so much more. Thanks. I'm trying rebuild my city here in the SF Bay Area. The 10 principles would be a great part of that process.

I always learn so much from Dami. And her passion is so cool. Also, your sense of style is fucking impeccable.

My sister was just telling me about Burning Man this year. She's been going a few years to Black Rock City. Her partner for much longer. They do local burns. And even one in South Africa. She gave me the quick jist of it, but your video fleshed out the Principles. The concept she had told me about that I was unfamiliar with was NO MONEY and GIFTS. I found that really inspiring because it means it's not just filled with vendors out to make cash. I go to a lot of Conventions and mostly people just go for the Dealer's Hall because they want to consume. But I nearly cried when you discussed the accessibility offered and required at Burning Man. And how the Radical Self Reliance and Particaption make those with handicaps feel actually more included than they are in everyday life. People with disabilities people are not very visible in daily, able bodied life and areas. I would think it would make those with no disabilities actually see "hey maybe we should consider people not like ourselves". I have a friend in a wheelchair and we go out from time to time. And some places have absolute garbage accessibility. But ever since one time where we went to a concert and they didn't have a public restroom accessible, then were weird about letting my friend use the employee restroom, I've kept my eyes wides open about things like that.

Thank you for doing all the proper research and sharing your perspective! As a multi time burner, I’d say your information are extremely accurate and I learned so much about the history of the city’s design from watching your video that one might not get even from going to the burn on multiple years! You’re right in that the community is what makes the city special, I started out as a spectator that is totally in awe of everything to becoming very hands on and comfortable with just about every tool you could imagine in just a few years. So yeah, the event will totally inspire you and push you out of your comfort zone and I highly recommend you to get out there! 😊

also the cost aspect of this event makes it so it’s extremely hard for lower class people to attend further confusing the aspect of ‘radical accessibility’ also this could contribute to gentrification of the event even if not a real city

My friends just went to Burning Man as founders of their own company, to build one of the structures that were set in place for the duration of the festival. The amount of thinking and communicating that went through every single one of their decisions was great, and I'd say it paid off! Especially since they took, first and foremost, the community's needs (as they did the environment's needs) into consideration. Your video was really inspiring, and it gave me a better sense of what their work was like from an architect/planner's perspective. Thank you!

One architect that I've always admired for taking the community's input as perhaps the core to most of her projects is Jeanne Gang. Her and her team's ability to act almost as a "sponge" of sorts, absorbing the deep (and sometimes untold) wants and needs of communities, gives about the same inclusive characteristic to their projects as Burning Man's, in my opinion.

Woke up with a massive hangover yet this had me from start to end, love it. Beautifully spoken.

You should go, and contribute. I went for the first time this year after 15 or so years of friends trying to convince me to go… My friends have worked on huge art out there and knew if I went I wanted to be a part of that. Over 5 months I volunteered with Folly Builders to build Paradisium (in your video) and got to see the city built in the process. It was really cool to see how big art comes together, to see people experience it and appreciate it. I came away with a very different pov from what I thought it would all be.

The experience of Burning Man is unique to each participant and you really can’t truly comment unless you’ve experienced it. It’s like trying to explain color to a blind person. The sights, sounds, smells, feel, personal connections and emotions are such an important part of the journey. Those are the real parts that drive the direction of the city. As a 1 year participant and 11 year employee, I was able to see considerable growth and growing pains in different areas but it was still one of the best run communities I’ve ever seen. I suggest everyone that has the ability to go should experience it. You really don’t know what it is until you experience it. It will change you as a person. A small part of your heart will stay on the playa every year..

As someone with mobility issues my respect for Burning Man has just gone up an inch. Still not convinced I ever want to go but appreciate they've created space for people like me.

I am calling BS on the leave no-trace aspect of this...

I run the Accessibility & Assistance Animals Facility at Western Australias regional burn "Blazing Swan". I'm disabled and can't afford to go to the big burn, but having spent alot of time studying it in order to do my job at our Blaze the past 7 years, I appreciate your accuracy in representing it. This year was the first year Accessibility made it onto Western Australias Org chart, for us a hugely positive move forward in our 8 year history. Every year we become more wheelchair accessible, and now with Org funding and backing it will be so much easier, I can't wait to see where the future takes us!

I've been three times and arrive early to help build. The bonds formed from co-solving hundreds of micro problems and relying on each other to build something from the blankest of canvases is incredible. Then meeting thousands of people that have just done the same and you sit back and enjoy the fruits of your effort together. All you can do is celebrate and share it.

Nice video :) and regarding your question at the end, if Burning Man has a lasting impact on people after leaving the event, I can just say: oh yes, definitely. Have been going in 2018 with the Comfort & Joy camp. And I was really mesmerized in multiple ways. Most importantly: seeing all those art installations, art cars and camps - all created by thousands of people coming there, can show you the best of what humans can do together and to each other. What happens when people collaborate instead of working against each other and support each other instead of restricting each other. Of course with the gigantic size there are also problems and every once in a while you see people who don’t care about the original principles, only come there to party and stay in their luxury camps. But personally at least I didn’t notice that aspect that much. I definitely feel that Burning Man and the people I met there helped me grow as a person. And: Burning Man (together with hackspaces) has been the origin of how I got interested in LEDs and the magical experiences those can create.

This is by far the most comprehensive video about this festival. Thanks you!

I love the way you articulate things from an artistic point. You’re very intuitive. I am blessed to learn from you.

You do such a great job explaining things. I'm a PM in the furniture world so I don't come across these concepts that often so I always leave your videos with more knowledge than I had going in!

Thanks for your deep dive into Burning Man, and actually making it something worth knowing more about. Well done 👏

I found this video trying to learn more about burning man. What I found was an incredibly articulate and wise woman explaining architecture and design. Dang girl! You rock!! I wish I could have had your wisdom when I built my house!

I’m not an architect, nor an aspiring architect, but I greatly appreciate thoughtful design and enjoy your content and style. Keep it coming, Dami!

I would absolutely LOVE to go to burning man one day even though I live all the way in Europe! It really reminds me of going camping in bulgaria at a beach that's not a camping place where you've got to pay and there's no toilets and pools and that stuff it's just us people, some tents and a beach. Seriously some of the best times came from that place and I can't imagine how amazing it is at such a large scale

This channel helped me appreciate architecture again! Happily subscribed!

Went in 2004. It’s the best. Loved participating, loved the creativity from myself and my new friends. It’s an amazing adventure that definitely changes you in a positive way forever

I really enjoy your dialogue and thoughts about different aspects of architecture and how it can define communities. Good work!!

Thanks for this. We studied organic dynamism seen in favelas and medieval cities in school. Feels like Burning Man comes close to these types of approaches.

Fascinating, when she said she had not been to burning man. I have looked at the world around me ( I'm 68) and have been told many times that I am a dreamer- that I should face reality and that I should wake up! I gave up trying to explain to to some that my feet were firmly on the ground and my eyes wide open. My work in a Childrens Hospital allows me to channel this and fly in an oasis environment. This woman speaks with that same vision. We are all so much more than a machine, and even if you do not go to burning man, it shows we can all flourish together in the right atmosphere. That is also my dream.

Dami, your videos are awesome. I love what you said at the end that having positive experiences and influence in our very neighborhood changes the social fabric. I'm in a super urban place. I walk a lot and say hi to almost everyone. I love treating urban as if it were a small town. It takes time and patience, but the effect is increased love...categorical!!!

That's so Awesome! Love the message at the end and the take away you're such an amazing youtuber and an amazing person I appreciate that

I think it's important to do such case studies on large events that take place in different parts of the world like Kumbh Mela. It helps in understanding mobile communities

''you have to understand the needs of people and focus on function first. But once you get there, once you understand function. How can we make it feel good? How does it get beyond reminding you that you might have a need that's different from someone else. To just be something that melts into the environment and doesn't stick out like you see something that is in a hospital?' - Maaya Anziv I absolutely loves this quote! It makes me feeling excited and just makes me want to design and solution think!

Yours was a fascinating, objective look at this phenomenon that's getting so much press this week - loved the communal architecture process at the end...would love to see a similar approach as Lahaina rebuilds.

Loved this video!!! Oddly enough i had never thought about evacuation of differently abled people, especially those in wheelchairs because in the event of an emergency you are not supposed to use lifts, you are meant to use the stairs. I ended up looking into it and learnt something totally new. Also i would totally understand the anxiety of differently abled people going into buildings that are like more than 5 stories up. Something i had never really thought about before until this video

🤣🤣that dig on fire regulations was so on point i felt it all the way in south africa

Burner here. This is one of those life experiences I believe everyone must attend at least once in their lives. It's a huge social experiment/experience that is unlike any other. Many newcomers in my friend circle come once and leave transformed. The art, the community, the shenanigans, the music, the teachings....the individual expressions, it's incredible. It is a 100% gifting economy which is the huge part of what helps others shift their perspectives with current systems. It's the closest thing to being in community driven by an abundance mindset and lots of self expression. I think of it as the metaverse in real life. Come to experience leave with something that had shifted within you for the better.

Love your research and ideas, Dami shared your video with my best friend like myself who's a writer and narrator and disabled and an Advocate for the disabled. ❤️✌️

I started using your videos to fall asleep at night because your voice is so soothing.

I went to this in 2004 and 2005 and it was beyond belief what these people are capable of . You gotta check it out for yourself.

Went to Burning man this year and last year (when it officially didn't happen and only about 10k showed up) what a difference a few more tens of thousands of people make, it felt like a lot of the principles did not scale with the city. I live in WA (Next door, come visit) where we also have a regional (local smaller events) I highly recommend.

This was a lovely deconstruction of some key aspects of BRC. I don't know what it's like now, but back in the aughts it was incredible! I'd love to go back but then for that amount of money I'd also love to visit anywhere else in the world. But I will always have a soft spot in my heart for that place/time.

I really enjoyed your video. Thank you for the brief history lesson on how the event has evolved.

This channel is literally my comfort channel as a comp sci student that has a whole lot of interest in architecture. She's so well spoken and knowledgeable and the topics are so interesting 💕 much love

Honestly, this was so well put together. First time watcher and you just changed my life. How arrogant was I, assuming that this event was just some drug abusing teens hanging out in a desert. I feel ashamed, this wasn't just a lesson on architecture but one of humility. Thank you, for both your time and expertise. I hope that in future videos I can learn more from you, to improve as a person and of course benefit from your wealth of knowledge about Architecture.

I would like to experience burning man one day,loved the pictures of the timber house at 15:47 dami,will endeavor to build my studio in a similar vein,thanks for your wonderful posts and your lovely insight.

First time watching your channel. Loved this! I've never been to Burning Man, but I did go to Shambala in its 2nd year; late 90's early 2000's. There were less than 2,000 of us. I hear its in the 20,000+ now. At the time/likely still, held on a private farmland. Confirming the odd cow walking about, was not a hallucination. Its structures are incredible! and ever-growing. Would love to see you do an episode on Shambala. Also - being a Vancouverite myself, I absolutely LOVE your accent. True Vancouver. Obvs you are born and raised here as well!

Yes. Going to the burn changes you. I see a massive shift in my experience of life after every visit to the BRC (I’ve been going since 2015). The people are incredible. The art is magical. And the energy is unmatched anywhere else. Thank you for this video, the insight, and the analysis. This is so far my favorite video of Burning Man I’ve ever seen. And it’s exactly why I love the community; you don’t have to go to feel it’s essence. But if you ever want to go, I’d love to connect!

I've gone to Burning Man 6x and really enjoyed how you described it and can attest its absolutely changed how I view people and the world! Hope you get to go one day!

Couldn't take not to commend your ad input hahaha 💯 You're so passionate in what you do, always a learning to hear from you, Ar.

Dami this was my first time watching you and I have to say you did an impressive job talking about Burning Man. Many people who go every year know less about the history and principles of Burning Man. I hope you attend in 2023. Getting a ticket is hard, but not if you try hard and use your resources.

Fantastic video! I have heard about Burning Man often, but had no clue what is was about. And you are just SO GOOD at explaining things. ❤️❤️ I learn so much from channel

I've never been myself but both through people I know who've gone, and random people I've seen talk about their experiences, it very much seems like an event that changes them in some way.

Love your historical and architectural presentation of this incredible event! As an architectural designer myself, I naturally appreciate these things. Been wanting to go but the dust :/ I might let go of my particular ways for the experience though ;)

I study law not architecture but her videos are fascinating

Lord, I love this channel ! Great video, super angle and perfect conclusion! Thanks!

The algorithm gods are in my favor today! So glad I stumbled into your content- I subscribed to your channel after less then a minute of viewing and listening to your content.

I've gone to festivals since the 90s in Australia. We're all different of course but overall I think that those events have a significant impact. Woodford affected me greatly, even after my first one day visit. It was like going to a nicer, better world for a holiday. When someones want to do something nice, create a nice atmosphere, and the enthusiasm builds over time it can become like a nuclear reactor. Some go because they're helping to make it better. Others go because they just heard it's fun. Then through us individually and as a group there are ideas and emotions that ripple out across the bigger group.

Mahalo for being accurate and not giving in to the "festival" miss representing the burn!!! It means everything to us burners

their adherence to zero trace is emotive at best

This was very well made. 😁😁😁 I really loved this video. Keep up the good work!

I love your channel Dami. The subjects are just amazing. Good to see a fellow Canadian doing well. ❤

Next story: How burning man literally became the thing it was railing against.

“When people leave a burning building, they don’t care if it’s a path or grass.” You spent so much time talking about accessibility, but seems like you kind of dismissed this point from the city as like “red tape” when really they’re trying to anticipate the problem of only having one path that forces people in front of the building, when not everyone can just run across the grass to flee from the fire, and who could really use a path on both sides there.

Well done. You captured a lot of what makes it a unique and special place for many people. Sadly time changes everything and many people are now attending who see it as a disposal “bucket list” event. That’s said, I hope you find a way to go at someone point.

I learned a lot about Burning Man history in this video even though I have attended a couple times! @DamiLee, you know so much about the event that I was surprised when you mentioned you had not yet been at the end of the video. You should definitely do yourself that favor sometime; you would appreciate it from a design perspective, in addition to everything else that makes the experience special.

Burning man is definitely life changing, there’s absolutely nothing like it

Please go to burning man. It completely does change your way of thinking about what’s possible in the default world. And you 100% take that with you to your job, relationships, and social life all year long. I’m amazed you have not attended the event yet because you really nailed your understanding of the ethos of the event. I studied land use and zoning in law school and have done some work in public policy on public transit projects and green building ordinances and I loved nerding out on your video. I look forward to viewing more of your content. Take care and hope to see you in the dust!

You are so amazing! Your perspectives on every subject are so inspiring and insightful... I live in Reno and have plenty of feelings regarding The Man. They're mixed but your view is an objective delight. Thank you

Great Civility lessons . Never heard of this event but I liked it!

I am currently making an accessibility app for my university, and specifically in one of the buildings it seems like the person that designed the building wanted to have windows in EVERY room and EVERY corridor. But not small windows, really big, "you-could-fall-out" kind of windows (it's a two story building) that make it seem really unfriendly to visually impaired people; and it's a somewhat known university, it's UNIFEI from Brazil, surprisingly inaccessible

Dami, if you go... I'll go. I've always been very curious about the Burning Man experience. I know somebody from New England that goes out there every couple of years to help lay it all out and set a lot of it up. He is also one of the greatest photographers of Burning Man. I just haven't made the leap to let my freak flag fly yet.

Having a walk path for the fire code situation actually makes sense. I know able body people can walk over turf and rocks more easily but that extra path helps disabled people get to safety as well

I don't know anything about that event or neither i care but I'm glad i came here just to watch the beautiful lady in the screen talking, her voice is really soothing.

The intent and ideals behind burning man remind me of the Earthship communities of Taos New Mexico. I think it would make for an interesting video! Love your work!

You should study anarchy places like Christiania, Copenhagen. It's always fascinating to see places like this.

Fantastic video! It is almost intriguing if you do a follow up following the end of the 2023 Burning Man event in light of the heavy rainfall which made conditions very trying (and the complications affecting mobility and evacuation from Black Rock City).

As an introvert, the idea of visiting burning man gives me massive social anxiety. 😋

The culture that happens is really beautiful. I love how its so accesible for people with disabilities. We live in a society where theyre looked over. In other cultures such people can be sacred. I think we need to start getting back to that in some ways. We all have different minds and experiences and being able to learn from each other is a beautiful thing. Giving those ppl such a beautiful experience will be carried by them for the rest of their lives. That adds great quality. Hold onto each other and have each others backs. 🖤

Just discovered this channel.. This is some quality content and commentary!

Damn!!!!! What a Brilliant video this is.... Congrats to the team of Dami

I wonder if they took inspiration from real towns for the plan. Some european towns with a central 17-18th century castle grew in the same manner and have strikingly similar plans like Karlsruhe and Versailles. Karlsruhe is nicknamed Fächerstadt (fan-city) because of it. Also in your building code example I would think that a paved escape path would be more wheelchair accessible?

this is the real MAD-MAX

An unofficial rule of burning man is safety 3rd. It's a really refreshing experience to be in an environment like that where things aren't totally safe, it's left up to you to decide if you want to do that thing that could hurt you. You kept bringing up the safety concerns as a negative, I take it as a positive. Leaving the choice up the individual is part of the radial self reliance part, its a really different experience to being in anything in normal society. I'm not against making things safe, but when the goal is 100% you really start overreaching on what is possible (how you end up with the city codes trying to protect against any point of failure/lawsuit). I'd highly recommend visiting.

As an artist I would love to go. I knew one woman who did and it changed her whole perspective on life.

Where’s the link, friend?

a festival with urban sprawl😭

I've cried several times over a beautiful study location that is in Uppsala. It's dark with artificial stars in the ceiling and has neurodivergent friendly seating and all the lights are adjustable. It kinda feels like home, every other public space is too harsh for me and my autistic and adhd needs ❤ And even if I do accommodate myself in other spaces it takes so much energy to go against the norm.

As a ui/ux designer and an avid burner, I related to this video so much. Thanks

Very nice principles, but I wonder about the environmental impacts of the burning man. At this scale, it is going to be huge in any aspect, from the disruption to the local ecosystem to the transport of material, food, water and energy (which is generated locally with literally "burning" fuel). I have always been fascinated by the event, but the more I study sustainability, the more this event seems to be an imposition of human power on nature. This is a place which is inhabitable and as far as they can remove any sign of their passage, there are "invisible" impacts that last, from the desert biodiversity to the emission generated, to the actual materials and so on. I cannot avoid thinking about how those principles are inherently hypocrisies if this has a huge impact on the future just for... fun

Out of curiosity: What happens if it rains at Burning Man™️? Just wondering…