Serpentine Pavilion 2023 – Lina Ghotmeh

Lina Ghotmeh is an acclaimed architect recognised for her innovative designs and concepts. She is the principal of Lina Ghotmeh – Architecture, a Paris-based firm she established in 2006. Her work spans multiple disciplines, including architecture, urban planning, and design.

Ghotmeh was born in Beirut, Lebanon and has lived and worked in multiple countries, including France, the UK, and Estonia. Her international experiences have influenced her design philosophy, and she often explores themes related to history, memory, and nature in her work.

She completed her architectural studies at the American University of Beirut and later at the École Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris. She has also studied at the Architectural Association in London.

One of her notable works includes the “Stone Garden” building in Beirut, a seven-story structure characterised by its irregularly stacked layers and incorporation of vegetation. The building is a tribute to Beirut’s history and resilience in the face of adversity. Its distinctive design mirrors the haphazard construction that characterised the city’s post-war period, while the integration of vegetation symbolises hope and renewal.

Ghotmeh has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work, including the 2020 European Prize for Architecture Philippe Rotthier. Her approach to design is often praised for its humanistic focus, sustainability, and careful consideration of her projects’ historical and cultural context.

Her practice takes an in-depth 360 approach to its projects, including research on location history, typology of the place, materials, resources, users’ habits etc. The architect’s designs are developed through historical research, emerging as interventions that enliven memories.