Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture

Putting on display the recently completed Stone Garden tower in Beirut, this installation portrays the capacity of architecture to act as a healing tool and be an active player in building resilience at times of crisis. Located near the city’s industrial port, a mile away from the epicentre of the explosion that ripped through half of the Lebanese capital in August 2020, the project takes its roots from its context: a war-torn cityscape lingering in constant mishap. The installation counts a scaled model of the building containing photographs and videos, and narrating the story of Beirut and that of the making of the project. The architecture of the building showcases alternative ways of living while dealing with questions of space restriction, memory, nature, living, and urban density. Echoing Beirut’s ruins invaded by nature, the tower manifests a persistent and optimistic emergence of life with large openings housing lush gardens, inviting nature at the heart of the dwellings and the city.

Image 1 – How will we live together?

Image 1a
“Sculpture for Living” - Let us build an earthly sculpture to inhabit. An architecture that embraces our life as that of nature. One that can constantly evolve and transform.

Image 1b
Building resilience at times of crisis - Manifesting a persistent and optimistic emergence of life. Large openings housing dwellers with lush gardens, inviting nature at the heart of the dwellings and the city.

Photos: Stone Garden, Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture, Beirut, 2020

Image 2 – Sneak peek of the project

Image 2a
An earth-covered, custom-made, combed skin. A tower that bares the traces of the hands of the many laboring in the city. A healing tool that invites artisans to participate in the emotional realm of architecture.

Image 2b
An Archeology of the Future taking its roots from the ground and rising in the skies. The memory of the city and the scars of crisis become the fertile ground for creativity and change.

Photos: Stone Garden, Joe Lahdou, Beirut, 2020

Peter & Nathalie Hrechdakian
Rony Zibara
Marwan El Khoury
Mohamad & Taymour Arayssi
S2T ingénierie
Ariss Lumière Group
Sal Sultan Metals
Ali Cherri
Gilbert Hage
Gregory Buchakjian
Nadim Asfar
leva Saudergaité
Ghassan Salhab
Iwan Baan
Wissam Charaf
Chloé Domat
Institut français

Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture: Lina Ghotmeh, Mark Abdel-Shaheeb, François Adelis, India Alarcon Rojas, Donald Au, Malek Pierre Arif, Anna Bukowy, Anna Checchi, Alessandro Colli, Caterina Cicognani, Ambra Chiesa, Selma Feriani, Theïa Flynn, Stephanie Ganahl, Michela Garau, Arthur Gaudenz, Luca Houllemare, Konstanty KosmaMikołajczak, Lucas Macabéo, Silvia Maciel, Federico Mannino, Léa Markatsch, JohannaMattsson, Sovanna Mauve, Alice Mohan, Seyed Mahan Mousavi, Enrique Orts Costa, Pauline Parizot, Sara Saur, Laura Tiron, Roberto Triveli, Paul Youenn, Hussam Zbeeb.
Modelab: Marco Galofaro and Ilaria Benassi
Printed photography and footage in model featuring Artists: Ali Cherri, Gilbert Hage, Gregory Bouchakjian, Nadim Asfar, leva Saudergaité, Ghassan Salhab
Large Screen film and drone filming: Drone film by Chloé Domat, Wissam Charaf
Large screen Photography: Iwan Baan