Last August, five architecture offices were shortlisted to redesign sections of Londons British Museum: 6a architects,David Chipperfield Architects, Eric Parry Architects and Jamie Fobert Architects,Lina Ghotmeh Architecture, andOMA.Lina Ghotmeh Architecture (LGA) was announced the competition winner. The Paris office will redesign British Museums Western Range galleries, which currently store hundreds of artworks and significant back-of-house areas in the 1850 building completed by architect Sir Robert Smirke. The commission is one of the largest and most prestigious in the world. LGA entered the competition with a wide team of consultants: artist Ali Cherri, conservation architect Purcell, and Arup are all in the winning group. Holmes Studio, a London office, will do graphic design and wayfinding. Plan A will be responsible for design team coordination.The project will help improve accessibility. ( LGA)British Museum said in a statement LGA was the unanimous favorite out of the applicant pool, which garnered 60 submissions at first. Nicholas Cullinan, the British Museums director, said Lina Ghotmeh came out on top thanks to her offices exceptional and materially sensitive architectural vision. The competition process was organized by Colander Associates, a London consultancy, on behalf of the British Museum. The judging panel included: Yvonne Farrell, Meneesha Kellay, Mahrukh Tarapor, and Sarah Younger.Renderings by Lina Ghotmeh show British Museums collection interspersed within cavernous rooms lined in masonry. Some materials are course, and have a pinkish hue, while others are striated and white.The walls will be lined in masonry. ( LGA)The jurors likened Ghotmehs approach to that of an archaeological dig, in how Ghotmeh looks at a buildings past to support its reimagination and future. My team and I are thrilled to embark on this journey for the renovation of the Western Range of the British Museum, LGAs founder Lina Ghotmeh shared. This competition has been an exciting process shaped by dialogue and multiple voices, Ghotmeh continued. I am looking forward to continuing this rich and collaborative process as we work towards transforming this section of the museum into an extraordinary spacea place of connections for the world and of the world.Competition model submitted by LGA ( LGA)The selection committee added Ghotmeh ultimately showed a deep understanding and sensitivity towards the Museum, the complexity of collections display and artifacts interactions with diverse visitor groups. Ghotmehs vision especially resonated with the panel because of its archaeological approach to architectural design. Lina Ghotmeh was born in Lebanon, and runs her studio in Paris. Past work on major cultural landmarks LGA embarked on includes Herms Leather Workshop in Louviers, Normandy, which finished in 2023; and the Estonian National Museum in Tartu. She also received the commission to design the Serpentine Pavilion in 2023.Earlier, Ghotmeh won the Grand prix AFEX 2016 and the Mies van der Rohe Award in 2017. Shes taught at Yale, Harvard, University of Toronto, and elsewhere.British Museum said the final design will be shared in mid-2026.