This is a massive project that I did with some other players as a spawn build for an SMP. I think it's one of the coolest and biggest projects I have ever built. I designed and directed the build but also had lots of help from other SMP staff on the server. It's a mayan (or incan, we were not aiming for very precise historical accuracy but more of a general vibe) temple ruin, dedicated to Sun god "Kinich Ahau", depicted up top in the form of an eagle.

We started of by creating terracing. The bottom level of the temple is very eroded, you can see lots of trees embedded in the structure, and this is where mangrove roots really came into view; they form a lovely root structure without completely covering it up. Due to the erosion on these levels you also see parts that are caved in, where watercraters have formed, and a whole lot of blocks that are cracked or covered in moss.

The higher levels have stood the test of time a whole lot better, the first level of terraces stand out from the other, and all levels have become very overgrown with all the lovely planting that the jungle has to offer. We didn't go for flowers because we really wanted that dense green foliage vibe, and tried to use as much different plants and greens as we could. The variety makes it very pleasing on the eye. We also tried to make the stones very varied, to make it more pleasing in the eye and also to get that ruin vibe; this temple has stood here for a long time. Also, on the corner, you can see that it has worn of more due to windsheer and exposure.

Up top there is of course a chamber, we have built the walls to form a bit of a transition between the stones of the main building and the copper statue up top. We have erected the statue for the Sun god in copper because we thought it befitting, a beautiful material. We considered gold too but there aren't many variations in gold blocks, and this is where the copper really outstood the gold option. All that copper texture makes it so much more pleasing to look at!

In the detailling we've been very conscious about making it look worn down but still very beautiful and very much part of a jungle environment, and thinking about the influence that rain and wind and sun could have had on the surface of the temple.

I hope very much that you will enjoy this build and that it will inspire you to come up with other beautiful builds!!!