The British Museum has selected Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh to transform more than a third of the gallery space on its western side.
Paris-based Lina Ghotmeh – Architecture will work alongside the British Museum to develop initial designs by mid-2026 for the project.
More than 60 teams applied to a two-stage architectural competition, which ran for nine months. Five teams were shortlisted and took part in the second stage.
These teams were 6a architects, David Chipperfield Architects, Eric Parry Architects & Jamie Fobert Architects, and OMA.
Ghotmeh and her team will work towards transforming the western side of the museum “into an extraordinary space – a place of connections for the world and of the world”, she said.
“We are honored to contribute to this holistic and publicly engaging transformation that will shape the museum’s future in the years to come,” Ghotmeh added.
Lina Ghotmeh the “standout winner”
Per a press release, Ghotmeh’s vision for the British Museum resonated with the panel due to its “archaeological” approach to architectural design, and its focus on sustainability and the use of natural materials.
George Osborne, chairman of the British Museum, said: “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.”
Osborne said Ghotmeh was the “standout winner” of the architectural competition.
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”, he said.
In December, the British Museum announced that architecture firm Studio Weave would design its new visitor welcome pavilions and forecourt as part of the wider masterplan.
Earlier this year, the institution launched a £150,000 tender for a project to review and reimagine its brand and visual/vocal identity.
Images courtesy of Lina Ghotmeh – Architecture
