Submitted by WA ContentsLina Ghotmeh selected to redesign the Western Range Galleries of the British MuseumUnited Kingdom Architecture News - Mar 03, 2025 - 14:38 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Paris-based architecture practice Lina Ghotmeh Architecture has been selected to redesign the Western Range Galleries of the British Museum in London, United Kingdom.Lina GhotmehArchitecture was chosen among 60 teams that entered the nine-month, two-stage international architectural competition. Out of the five teams who made the short list, LGA was selected as an "unanimous favourite" for the second stage.According to the British Museum's announcement, LGA, which is led by multi-award-winning architect Lina Ghotmeh, shown a profound awareness and empathy for the Museum, the intricacy of the collections' display, and the ways in which artifacts engage with a range of visitor demographics.The panel found particular resonance in Ghotmeh's concept due to its "archaeological approach" to building design.Ghotmeh, a Lebanese native, is believed to have compared every new project to an archeological dig, examining a building's past to inform its future'story' and reimagining, with sustainability at its core and careful attention to natural material usage. The panel believed that the museum's collection, which covers two million years of human history, reflected this emotion."My team and I are thrilled to embark on this journey for the renovation of the Western Range of the British Museum," said Lina Ghotmeh, Founder of Lina Ghotmeh Architecture."This competition has been an exciting process shaped by dialogue and multiple voices. I am looking forward to continuing this rich and collaborative process as we work towards transforming this section of the Museum into an extraordinary space a place of connections for the world and of the world," Ghotmeh added."Lina Ghotmeh combines a deep sensitivity to the history of our great collection""We set out to find the best and I believe we've found her. 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."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," Osborne added."When we moved into our current building 200 years ago the world was wowed. I believe they will be wowed again when this transformation of our great sculpture galleries, and much more, is complete," he continued.Significant commissions are not novel to Ghotmeh's firm, which has a remarkable history of creating important cultural landmarks.The Estonian National Museum in Tartu and the recently finished Herms Leather Workshop in Louviers, Normandy, which opened in 2023, are significant examples of her work. High-profile honors like the Grand Prix AFEX 2016 and the Mies Van der Rohe Award 2017 have been bestowed upon and nominated for Ghotmeh.Lina Ghotmeh and Nicholas Cullinan in the Western Range. Image The Trustees of the British Museum"The proposal an exceptional and materially sensitive architectural vision"Dr Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the British Museum, said: "Lina Ghotmeh is an architect of extraordinary grace and gravitas. Her team's proposals demonstrated an exceptional and materially sensitive architectural vision for the British Museum, and their 'archaeological' approach clearly understood the ambition for this project to be as much an intellectual transformation as an architectural one.""Lina and her team have a track record for delivering unique and human-centred design with a timeless elegance.""I am delighted we will be working together and excited for the years ahead at such a pivotal chapter for the Museum, embarking on a generationally significant project that will transform a third of our gallery space," Cullinan added.In May 2024, the Museum held an international competition for Western Range architecture, which ended in December 2024. Over the course of nine months, 60 submissions from architecture firms worldwide participated in a two-phase competition that assessed their ability, imagination, and foresight in coming up with a plan to renovate a third of the Museum's gallery space on its famous central London location.Lina Ghotmeh in her atelier. Image Dion BarrettThe expert judging panel, which included Director Nicholas Cullinan of the British Museum and Chair George Osborne, as well as 10 professionals of the architecture industry, shortlisted five teams. The judging panel comprised of leading experts in the field of architecture including Grafton Architects co-founder Yvonne Farrell, Meneesha Kellay, Mahrukh Tarapor and Sarah Younger.Lina Ghotmeh Architecture and the wider team including: Ali Cherri Artist, Purcell Executive & Conservation Architect, Arup MEP, Structural & Civil Engineering, Holmes Studio Graphic Design & Wayfinding, Plan A Design Team Coordination, will now work with the Museum's team to move their winning concept and ideas to a final design approach which is expected to be shared by mid-2026.Model submitted by Lina Ghotmeh Architecture for competitionLina Ghotmeh Architecture is a globally recognized practice led by architect Lina Ghotmeh, who was born in Lebanon and is renowned for her award-winning, ecologically conscious and historically inspired designs.Ghotmeh, who was raised in Beirut, creates architecture that is progressive, environmentally conscious, and inclusive by fusing traditional craftsmanship with innovation.All renderings courtesy of Lina Ghotmeh Architecture unless otherwise stated.> via The British Museum