Land Art Generator Initiative

Biographical Note: Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI, Robert Ferry, and Elizabeth Monoian

The Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) was founded in 2009 as an international competition designed by the husband-and-wife team of Robert Ferry (architect) and Elizabeth Monoian (artist), whose firm Studied Impact was focused on the environmental effects of design. LAGI provides a platform for creatives working with engineers and scientists to bring forward solutions for sustainable energy infrastructures that enhance urban environments as works of public art. The Land Art Generator International Design Competitions have become one of the world’s most followed sustainable design events. LAGI uses a variety of project delivery models, including: its biennial design competition, invited competitions, commissions and RFPs, and by facilitating community design processes.

Robert Ferry graduated from Carnegie Mellon University and is a registered architect who worked in design and project management in sustainable new urbanist developments in the U.S. for a decade, then spent four years as a consultant in large commercial projects in Abu Dhabi. Elizabeth Monoian earned an MFA at Carnegie Mellon.

The first LAGI design competition was held in 2010 for three sites in the United Arab Emirates and received hundreds of submissions from over 40 countries. In partnership with New York City’s Department of Parks & Recreation LAGI held the 2012 design competition for a site within Freshkills Park (the former Fresh Kills Landfill). They received 250 submissions from around the world. LAGI 2014 came to Copenhagen, and LAGI 2016 was held in Southern California, where they addressed the energy-water nexus at a design site adjacent to the historic Santa Monica Pier. LAGI 2018 was held in Melbourne, Australia and in 2019 they returned to Abu Dhabi to host a competition in partnership with the 24th World Energy Congress. The competitions, which used to be biennial, are now being held annually, and one is planned for Burning Man’s Fly Ranch property in 2020. Competition materials submitted include digital project posters that form the basis for the books accompanying each competition.

Materials include organizational materials, printed ephemera, competition and exhibition files, correspondence, and publications.