23rd February 2024 - Lina Ghotmeh

 

Lina Ghotmeh with Nicholas Cullinan in the Western Range of the British Museum 

Lina Ghotmeh Lebanese born architect has won the contract to alter/renew the British Museum.  I learnt that this morning when in my emails Mike Pitt's latest blog came through.  Mike Pitt is the editor of 'British Archaeology' and a writer of  good archaeological books.  Many years ago when he ran the cafe at Avebury with his partner he was also a friend of Pauls.  There were parties apparently in the big old house, next to the loos, I believe, where before Avebury became Avebury to the neo-pagans, people gathered.

But that is but tittle-tattle, what do you notice first of all?  she is female and it still surprises me that a woman can be an architect - it should not of course.  In fact 31% is the figure, almost a third so not really bad.  Her mother who was also an architect had four children therefore was more occupied with her family than her work.  But Lina did not start out in architecture, she was interested in many things, biology and archaeology to name but two.  Studying in Paris though she got a degree in architecture and Paris is where she operates from.  Her work, like so many architects reflects designs of the world around her, whether it be geology or the natural.  Stone Garden in Beirut is extraordinary and she has also done some work in this country in the construction of 'The Serpentine Pavilion' in 2023.  Which seems to be renewed every so often.

Serpentine Pavilion

So here is Mike Pitt's Digging Deeper link  I hope she achieves her goal along with her team.

And just a thought. "A museum of the world, for the world" Neil Macgregor.

There is always trouble brewing at museums about how they acquired their artefacts, and shouldn't they give back some of them to the countries they came from.  But a central gathering of history is just as important for knowledge.

My favourite museum happens to be Wells Museum, a miscellany of stuff;)

British Museum Western Range Competition - Lina Ghotmeh Architecture on Vimeo