Lina Ghotmeh to Redesign British Museum's Western Range in Major Cultural Renovation

Architect Lina Ghotmeh has won the competition to redesign the Western Range galleries at the British Museum in London, surpassing other prominent architects like Rem Koolhaas and David Chipperfield. This ambitious overhaul is described by the museum as "one of the biggest cultural renovations undertaken anywhere in the world." Ghotmeh's team includes artist Ali Cherri, and initial designs are expected by mid-2026. Her ideas, praised for their beauty and ingenuity, include re-using rubble from the building process. The Western Range, encompassing Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome collections, covers a third of the museum's gallery space. The refurbishment is part of a wider masterplan, including a new Energy Centre to reduce carbon emissions, aiming for a more sustainable institution.