Lina Ghotmeh

Lebanese-French architect blending sustainability with trauma-informed design in post-conflict zones.

Lina Ghotmeh (b. 1980) redefines architecture through «Archeology of the Future», a method that layers historical memory with ecological innovation. A Beirut native, her work responds to urban trauma, notably designing the Stone Garden tower—a scarred concrete structure symbolizing Lebanon’s resilience after the 2020 port explosion.

Her acclaimed Estonian National Museum (2016) slopes into a Soviet airfield, using recycled materials and geothermal energy. Ghotmeh’s circular design ethos rejects demolition; for example, her Serpentine Pavilion (2023) reused 90% biodegradable materials. She collaborates with anthropologists, as seen in her Benin Royal Museum project, which avoids colonial aesthetics.

Ghotmeh advocates for «low-tech sustainability», prioritizing local crafts over carbon-heavy tech. Her Tokyo’s Todoroki House revitalizes a 1970s building with washi paper partitions. Named 2021 Design Miami/ Designer of the Year, she proves architecture can heal communities and ecosystems alike.