DUBAI: Lebanese-helmed architecture firm Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture (LG-A) will redesign the British Museum’s Western Range galleries after winning the contract in a competition.
The Paris-based firm, founded by Beirut-born Ghotmeh, will transform the museum’s historic building the houses some of the world’s greatest antiquities.
The competition for the project ran for nine months and attracted more than 60 teams. Five were shortlisted, including Reem Koolhaas and David Chipperfield, and were invited to take part in a two-stage competition, from which LG-A emerged as the winner.
Gotmeh’s vision for the redesign for the galleries resonated with the judges due to its archaeological approach to the architectural design in what the museum is calling “one of the biggest cultural renovations undertaken anywhere in the world.”
“In Lina Ghotmeh we have an architect who combines a deep sensitivity to the history of our great collection while being a voice for the future,” said George Osborne, chairman of the British Museum and chair of the judging panel, in a statement. “We had many outstanding entries – and I thank the other practices for all their hard work – but I can say as chair of the judging panel, she was the standout winner.
“Her design ideas excited and enthused the trustees; when they become real buildings and galleries, we know they will excite and enthuse our millions of visitors,” added Osborne.
The judging panel comprised of experts in the field of architecture including Yvonne Farrell, Meneesha Kellay, Mahrukh Tarapor, and Sarah Younger. Alongside Nicholas Cullinan, director of the British Museum, were representatives from the British Museum’s Board of Trustees — artist Tracey Emin, Charlie Mayfield and Alejandro Santo Domingo.
Ghotmeh, who grew up in Beirut during the 1980s amid the Lebanese civil war, is known for her sensitivity when designing projects. In 2023, she designed the Serpentine Pavilion London, making her the second female architect to do so after Zaha Hadid. She has also been commissioned to design a contemporary art museum in AlUla, Saudi Arabia’s ancient desert region in the northwestern part of the country. In 2005, she won the international competition for the design of the Estonian National Museum while working in London and collaborating with Ateliers Jean Nouvel and Foster & Partners.
“The beauty of this project lies in how my work process is both confirmed and enriched by a project like the British Museum,” Ghotmeh told Arab News, adding how winning the project gave her “a feeling of sharing, of collective joy, an expression of deep humanity that arises from the connections and emotions these moments evoke.”
Ghotmeh’s team also features Lebanese artist Ali Cherri, winner of the Silver Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2022, who is known for his art exploring cultural heritage, particularly in Lebanon and the wider Mediterranean, and geopolitics.
While prestigious, the redesign will be challenging. The Western Galleries, which comprise a third of the museum’s overall gallery space, total 15,650 square meters. The complex area includes the original 1850s buildings that were designed by Robert Smirke and later additions — all of which need to be renovated to meet present building standards. Many of the galleries contain important “heritage building fabric” the museum has said.
Ghotmeh also notes the feeling of responsibility in redesigning such an important museum, stating how she feels “the responsibility to bring our visions to life and continue this path of striving for quality and beauty.”
“Each project, for me, is a historical, material, and creative journey — like ‘archaeology of the future.’
“I am thrilled to design with a deep understanding of this museum — its history, the possibilities of what a 21st-century museum could be, the collection, its provenance, and the stories it should tell,” added Ghotmeh. “It’s about finding ways to engage with it, creating dialogue, and turning spaces into vessels. This is an opportunity to create extraordinary places that inspire a deep connection with the world.”
