Lina Ghotmeh © Kimberly Lloyd
Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, has announced that renowned architect Lina Ghotmeh, founder and principal of the Paris-based studio Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture, has been chosen through an international competition to design the Qatar Pavilion in the Giardini of La Biennale di Venezia.
The Qatar Pavilion will be located in the heart of the Giardini on a site adjacent to the iconic Book Pavilion and will be commissioned by H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa on behalf of the State of Qatar. When completed, it will be only the third Pavilion added in more than fifty years to the historic and prestigious Giardini.
Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa said:
“I extend my warmest congratulations to Lina Ghotmeh on receiving the commission for the Qatar Pavilion in the Giardini of La Biennale di Venezia. Her work is inspiring new and traditional audiences with its sensitivity to the human condition and its confident, innovative flair. Lina has a worldview and sensibility that has grown from her native Lebanon to reach across cultures. She has wholeheartedly embraced our vision for the Qatar Pavilion as a platform for the artistic, architectural, and cultural creativity of our nation and the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. I thank H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for his vision and support in realising Qatar’s Pavilion. For their vision of bringing our two nations together through arts and culture, I also thank the Republic of Italy; Maria Tripodi, Italy’s Undersecretary of State to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; the Municipality of Venice and Mayor Luigi Brugnaro; Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, President of La Biennale di Venezia; H.E. Khalid bin Youssef Khalifa Abdullah Al Sada, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Qatar; and H.E. Paolo Toschi, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to the State of Qatar.”
Lina Ghotmeh said:
“My team and I are deeply honoured to have been chosen for this uniquely exciting and significant project. Qatar is a cultural beacon for the entire MENASA region. It is thrilling to be given this opportunity to design Qatar’s Pavilion on the historic grounds of the Giardini of La Biennale di Venezia.”
Lina Ghotmeh was selected on the basis of a concept distinguished by its architectural clarity and thoughtful response to the Pavilion’s historic context, creating a cultural bridge between Qatar and the global community. Exemplifying architecture’s ability to engage with the public realm, the design blends seamlessly with the Pavilion’s immediate landscape and the larger environment. Taking into account the contemporary art and architecture that it will house, the interior will be flexible and adaptable, enabling exhibitors to transform the space into their own creative visions.
About Lina Ghotmeh
Lebanese-born Lina Ghotmeh, founder of the internationally acclaimed firm Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture, is known for her award-winning, sustainable, and historically rooted designs. Her work blends traditional craftsmanship with innovation, shaping a forward-thinking, ecological, and inclusive approach to architecture. Her philosophy, “Archaeology of the Future,” fosters a deep connection between history, nature, and materials.
Notable projects include the redesign of the Western Range galleries of the British Museum (announced in February 2025); the 22nd Serpentine Pavilion in London (2023); Ateliers Hermès (2023) in Normandy, France’s first low-carbon, energy-positive industrial building; Stone Garden Housing tower in Beirut (2020); and the Estonian National Museum in Tartu (2016). Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture is also designing the AlUla Contemporary Art Museum in Saudi Arabia and the Bahrain Pavilion for Expo 2025. Her work was exhibited in the 17th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.
About the Architecture Competition
Lina Ghotmeh was selected to design the Qatar Pavilion through an international competition organised by Malcolm Reading Consultants on behalf of Qatar Museums. Following an invited call for submissions, a shortlist of nine competitors was chosen to present initial design concepts developed over a twenty-week period.
The Advisory Panel for the competition comprised chair Rem Koolhaas (Founder and Principal, OMA), Alejandro Aravena (Founder and Principal, ELEMENTAL), Georges Arbid (Founding Director, Arab Center for Architecture), Zeina Arida (Director, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art), Jean-Paul Engelen (Americas President, Phillips), Massimiliano Gioni (Artistic Director, The New Museum), Catherine Grenier (Concept Director, Art Mill Museum), Mona Ahmad Hussain (Legal Advisor, Chairperson’s Office, Qatar Museums), Manuela Luca-Dazio (Special Advisor to Qatar Museums and Executive Director, Pritzker Architecture Prize), and Hafid Rakem (Project Development Director, Chairperson’s Office, Qatar Museums).
About Qatar Museums
Now marking its 20th anniversary, Qatar Museums (QM) is the nation’s preeminent institution for art and culture, providing authentic and inspiring cultural experiences through a growing network of museums, heritage sites, festivals, public art installations, and programmes. QM preserves and expands the nation’s cultural offerings, sharing art and culture from Qatar and the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region with the world and enriching the lives of citizens, residents, and visitors.
Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and led by its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, QM has made Qatar a vibrant centre for the arts, culture, and education in the Middle East and beyond. Since its founding in 2005, QM has overseen the development of museums and festivals including the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and MIA Park, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Qatar (NMOQ), 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, QM Gallery Al Riwaq, QM Gallery Katara, and Design Doha. Future projects include Art Mill Museum, Lusail Museum, Dadu: Children’s Museum of Qatar, and Qatar Auto Museum.
Through its Creative Hub, QM also initiates and supports projects—such as the Fire Station Artist in Residence, the Tasweer Qatar Photo Festival, M7, the creative hub for innovation, fashion, and design, and Liwan Design Studios and Labs—that nurture artistic talent and create opportunities to build a strong and sustainable cultural infrastructure.
Animating everything that Qatar Museums does is an authentic connection to Qatar and its heritage, a steadfast commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, and a belief in creating value through invention.
For more information visit https://qm.org.qa.
Contacts:
Qatar Museums
Mohamed Khamis Faraj
[email protected]
Polskin Arts
Megan Sprenger
[email protected]
Gregory Gestner
[email protected]
Malcolm Reading Consultants
Chloë Phillips
Competition Manager
[email protected]
