LOLA LAFIA


PROJECT SEED
2021



LOCATION:
Fly Ranch, Nevada In 2020, the Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) joined forces with Burning Man Project (the nonprofit that produces the event) to hold a design competition for a sustainable development—that also functions as a regenerative artwork—on Fly Ranch, a 3,800 property on the edge of the Black Rock Desert and home to  Fly Geyser.

With a team of designers, architects and permaculturists, I helpd conceptualized (and spearheaded the written component) of what became a winning proposal and recipient of a grant to start prototyping onsite. 

“Project Seed” is a vision of development grounded in ecological restoration and carbon neutral infrastructure, based on the use of natural building (ex: thermally efficient rammed earth), closed-loop agriculture (aquaponics, biodigesters & greywater recycling), and a host of renewable energy methods (ex: geothermal, passive cooling).
Our first build week happened in summer 2021, when we constructed The Keyhole: an earth-built gathering space with a clay oven, aligned to the summer solstice. We experimented with various earth-building techniques and locally sourced materials by making adobe and cob. 




We returned summer 2022 to continue experimenting / proof of concepting, and constructed The Snail...

... a 60ft wide sunken garden, agricultural experiment and exercise in community activation. In less then ten days, we excavated a protected space, produced 600+ adobe bricks, and constructed a rammed earth bench to test various soil formulas. After construction, we planted dozens of edible species (non-invasive species like fig, goji berries, appricot, and seasonal greens) and ran irrigation lines for watering throughout the garden. Over 30 volunteers helped throughout the week to build The Snail by hand, together. 



PREVIOUS     NEXT