Sensitive Spaces

More than a method of work, “archaeology of the future” is a true approach to the built landscape established by Lina Ghotmeh throughout her practice. Her designs develop from thorough historical research, emerging as interventions that enliven our memories and senses. Every piece of architecture draws inspiration from its place and the traces of its past. A link is drawn between time, memory and space, drawing a strong tie between the Humane and Nature. The past meets the future as histories are unearthed and memories are excavated to enable questioning, innovation, and a more sustainable architecture. Bearing a “humanist” approach, Lina Ghotmeh’s practice emphasises the power of craft and that of the hand in the making of architecture. Through this, the built embraces the traditions of its localities, while uplifting the subjective experience and the collective memory of those it recalls.

Projects that will be discussed over the course of this lecture include:

Stone Garden in Beirut, Lebanon, which connects the city’s eventful past to the present by calling forward its ruins, histories of conflicts and scarred landscape.

The Workshops for Hermès, as the first low carbon, energy positive building delivered in France, exist in complete symbiosis with their landscape, all while bridging craft, beauty, and high-tech architecture.

À Table, the 22nd Serpentine Pavilion rises as a wooden structure conceived in dialogue with the natural environment that surrounds it. Built predominantly from bio-sourced and low-carbon materials, the 2023 Pavilion continues Ghotmeh's focus on sustainability with the design of the space responding to the shape of the surrounding tree canopies. It is inspired by the architect’s Mediterranean heritage as well as fervent discussions around the table over current affairs, politics, personal lives, and dreams. À table – is a call to sit down together at a table to engage and participate in a constructive dialogue while sharing a meal.

Lina Ghotmeh leads her practice Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture in Paris. Echoing her lived experience of Beirut – a palimpsest of unrest – her designs are orchestrated as an “Archeology of the Future” where every project emerges materially sensitive and in symbiosis with nature. Her work including ‘Stone Garden’ tower in Beirut — Dezeen project of the year 2021, exhibited at the 17th Biennale in Venice, at MAXXI in Rome and today in cooper Hewitt in New York — the Estonian National Museum, and the recently delivered first passive, low carbon building in France for Ateliers Hermès. Lina Ghotmeh was Louis I Khan professor at Yale and Gehry Chair at Toronto University. She has been awarded 2020 Schelling Architecture Prize among other prizes and nominations. She is the nominated architect for this year's Serpentine Pavilion in London.
www.linaghotmeh.com

Please note that this lecture will be ticketed with ticketing arrangements shared closer to the time. It will have restricted capacity with priority given to current AA students and staff as well as fully registered AA Members to register to attend. For those unable to obtain a ticket, the talk will be relayed, and will be recorded to be published later

Image: À Table! 22nd Serpentine Pavilion, London, England
© Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture.
Photo: Iwan Baan, Courtesy: Serpentine. 2022-2023