Back To The Land

Growing up in Beirut, Lina Ghotmeh pursued architecture as a means of building community in times of conflict. Her mission is more relevant today than ever.

- Antonina Jedrzejczak

ON A RECENT trip to Bukhara, Uzbekistan, Lina Ghotmeh fell in love with the city's 10th-century mausoleums. "The woven brickwork is mind-blowing," says the Lebanese architect on a call from Paris, where her eponymous studio can be found in the 11th arrondissement. It's the type of designrooted in tradition, materiality and memory-that Ghotmeh is most passionate about. Since completing her studies at the American University of Beirut, that dedication has made her one of the most sought-after architects working today. From an eco-conscious leather workshop for Hermès to last year's Serpentine Pavilion to the upcoming contemporaryart museum of AlUla in Saudi Arabia, her projects span the globe. Given the demand, one could understand the pressure to do things faster. But for Ghotmeh, there are no shortcuts. "Sometimes a client thinks that we can finish in a month," she says with a laugh. "With me, that's impossible. It's so important to do the research to understand the typology, history, environment and resources that we'll be working with." Looking back in time, she explains, and into the earth itself, is what allows her to bring innovation and originality to her buildings. Alongside her team, which fluctuates between 25 and 30 people, the goal is to capture the "fragile monumentality" that characterises her vision.

We spoke to Ghotmeh about her upcoming projects, her passion for archaeology and why we all need a reminder that it's actually bacteria that rule the world.

As a child you wanted to be an archaeologist and it's something that has continued to have a big influence on you. Where do you think that passion came from?