
Beautifully and intricately crafted, this wooden temple is the product of two years of hard work and planning - and on Saturday night it will be burnt to the ground.

The stunning 75ft timber sculpture is the work of renowned American artist David Best, famed for his wooden temple creations set alight during Nevada's annual Burning Man festival.

Towering into the sky in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, the structure was made by Catholics and Protestants working together to honour those who died in the Troubles.

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Spectacular: This towering structure in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, is the work of renowned American Burning Man artist David Best

During the Northern Irish conflict in the late 20th century, more than 3,600 people were killed and thousands more were injured as paramilitaries and security forces fought each other over a period of 30 years.

Symbolically, many of the commemorative temple's panels were designed and made by more than 100 young people from around the city.

The structure, which features a giant wooden chandelier hanging down from a central spire, has been open since last Saturday and members of the public have been encouraged to scrawl messages and leave mementos in tribute to lost loved ones.

The temple, located in Corrody Road Country Park, was organised by Artichoke, a charity which works with artists to create large-scale events, and will be burnt on Saturday March 21 at dusk.

Thousands of people have already visited the impressive creation and a number of poignant messages are visible across the intricate panels of wood.

Bonfires have traditionally been a source of division in the city of Londonderry, also referred to as Derry.

Majestic: Workers are pictured in Londonderry's Corrody Road Country Park at sunset during the construction of the impressive creation

Bonfires have traditionally been a source of division in the city of Londonderry, also referred to as Derry, but the temple is about unity

Huge towers made of wooden pallets are set alight every year to celebrate the victory of King William of Orange over Catholic King James in the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

US artist Best decided to turn the tradition on its head - creating a work of art that Catholic and Protestants could work on together and burn in a symbol of peace.

Best has now produced eight temples for the Burning Man Festival, which takes place in the Nevada every August, and each one has had its own name, with 2014's creation named the Temple of Grace.

Helen Marriage, director of Artichoke, said the project was building on the legacy of Derry's City of Culture.

Speaking to Belfast Live, she said: 'Ever since we began working in Derry-Londonderry in 2012, I have been interested in how our work might begin to undermine some of the long-held fears and anxieties prevalent in the city.

'David Best's work was always part of my thinking and I'm really pleased we've been able to return to build on the legacy of Lumiere.

'Temple offers a new take on the bonfire tradition, creating a shared space that welcomes everyone.'

Years in the making: Renowned Californian artist David Best pictured at the opening of his 75ft wooden Temple in Londonderry

Symbolic artwork: The temple was built by Catholics and Protestants, who will burn it together in a show of peace on Saturday

Intricate detail: The timber structure is the result of two years of hard work and planning and will be ceremoniously burnt on Saturday

A copy of the Derry News bearing a poignant message is pinned to the central spire of the temple as visitors admire the creeation

Mark of respect: A woman pays a nighttime visit to the temple to write a message on one of the timber panels aided by her phone's light

The wooden chandelier hangs down from a central spire in the inside of the temple as a builder adds the final touches on Friday

Work in progress: The foundations of the temple and a builder are cast in shadow on Friday one day before the temple's official opening

Dozens of people gather in the park, also known as Kelly's Field, to admire the towering 75ft temple on Saturday when it was opened

Dan Bryce and his daughters 2-year-old Aoife (left) and 6-year-old Aine write a message to leave at the Burning Man Temple

Tribute: Thousands of people have already travelled to the site in Londonderry to leave mementos, messages and photographs

Renowned artist: Best has now produced eight temples for the Burning Man Festival, which takes place in the Nevada Desert every August

Set to burn: The beautifully-crafted wooden sculpture illuminates the sky around Londonderry in this picture taken last night

Beautiful: Visitors from around the city continued to arrive late last night to witness the spectacular David Best creation

Collective effort: The tower was built and raised by more than 100 individuals drawn from communities across the Northern Irish city

Tribute: Harriet Vickers, 22, whose mother was injured in a bomb blast during the Troubles, places a tribute inside the temple alongside methodist minister Reverend Stephen Kingsnorth

Attraction: Dozens of visitors crowd into the temple to chat and leave messages and photographs. More than 3,600 died in the Troubles

Messages to loved ones: A collection of cards and pieces of wood bearing commemorative messages fill a space inside the temple

Commemorating the Troubles: A poignant message is scrawled across an intricately-designed panel on the side of the structure

Ceremonial burning: The temple will be set alight on Saturday at dusk and is predicted to take around one hour to burn to the ground