Design the Future: LAGI 2025 Fiji Launches Global Competition

The Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) 2025 Fiji competition is calling on creative minds worldwide to shape the future of clean energy and water for Marou Village, Fiji. This unique challenge merges art, sustainability, and community empowerment, offering $200,000 in rewards to participants who can create innovative solutions.

The Challenge
Participants are invited to design a permanent landmark piece of art in the landscape that not only captivates but also provides clean energy and reliable drinking water to Marou Village. Situated on the southeast coast of Naviti Island in the Yasawa Group, the village is home to 67 households. The project aims to ensure a sustainable energy future for this coastal community while supporting tourism and showcasing harmonious coexistence with nature.

The Vision
Two winning teams will each receive $100,000 to develop their design proposals and construct working prototypes in Fiji. These prototypes will demonstrate the potential of integrating regenerative energy and water systems into breathtaking landscapes. Beyond technical solutions, the competition seeks to inspire global audiences by reimagining a world powered by renewable energy.

In partnership with the Fiji Arts Council, LAGI 2025 Fiji will also host exhibitions and community engagement events. These initiatives aim to highlight the beauty of a carbon-free future and showcase creative responses to the challenges posed by climate change.

The Urgency
Fiji, like many island nations, has contributed minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions but bears the brunt of climate change impacts. Rising sea levels, unpredictable precipitation, and prolonged dry seasons threaten the region’s ecosystems. Renewable energy solutions, particularly solar power, face unique challenges related to land use and aesthetics in Fiji, where every inch of land holds cultural and ecological significance.

Through this competition, LAGI seeks practical designs that maximize land use by integrating renewable energy systems with cultural sites, farms, public spaces, and habitats. Winning designs should enhance Fiji’s iconic landscapes while addressing critical local needs for electricity and water.

The Selection Process
An expert jury comprising members from the Pacific Islands, Fiji, and Marou Village, alongside global leaders in diverse fields, will oversee the selection process. Technical reviews by solar mini-grid specialists will ensure feasibility, while the jury evaluates designs anonymously based on merit.

Among the esteemed jurors is Dr. Ramendra Prasad of the University of Fiji, who is also a key member of the Transforming Energy Access – Learning Partnership. Together with other experts in community energy, policy, art, culture, climate science, storytelling, architecture, and planning, the panel will choose designs that exemplify innovation, sustainability, and cultural sensitivity.

Your Invitation to Innovate
LAGI 2025 Fiji is more than a design competition; it’s a movement to envision and create a future where renewable energy systems empower communities and enrich the natural and social environments. Whether you’re an architect, artist, engineer, or dreamer, this is your chance to leave a lasting impact on a community and inspire global audiences.

Visit the LAGI 2025 Fiji website to learn more about the competition and how to participate. Together, let’s design a thriving, sustainable future for Marou Village and beyond. The competition launces on 6 January 2025, and runs until 5 May 2025.