First Look at Lina Ghotmeh’s Design for Qatar’s First Permanent National Pavilion at Venice Biennale’s Giardini

Qatar has announced that architect Lina Ghotmeh, founder and principal of the Paris-based studio Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture, has been selected to design its permanent national pavilion in the Giardini della Biennale, the historic venue of La Biennale di Venezia since 1895. The new building will be on a site adjacent to the Book Pavilion and commissioned by H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa on behalf of the State of Qatar. With this addition, Qatar becomes one of only 31 countries with a permanent pavilion in the Giardini, joining a select group of nations with dedicated exhibition spaces. Only two new national pavilions have been inaugurated there in the past 50 years: Australia in 1988 and the Republic of Korea in 1996. Lina Ghotmeh’s new Qatar Pavilion will serve as a lasting platform for showcasing the country’s artistic and architectural contributions, with rotating exhibitions presented during each edition of the Biennale.

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Lina Ghotmeh was selected to design the Qatar Pavilion through an international competition organized by Malcolm Reading Consultants on behalf of Qatar Museums, the national institution responsible for expanding the country’s cultural offerings and sharing art and culture from Qatar and the broader Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA) region with the world. Following an invited call for submissions, nine competitors were shortlisted to present initial design concepts developed over twenty weeks. According to the official announcement, Ghotmeh was chosen for the architectural clarity of her proposal and its “thoughtful response to the Pavilion’s historic context.”

The design is described as blending seamlessly with both the immediate landscape and the surrounding environment, offering a flexible and adaptable interior that allows visitors to transform the space. For these qualities, the project has been praised as an example of how architecture can actively engage with the public realm. Regarding Lina Ghotmeh’s broader work, the competition organizers emphasized her sensitivity to the human condition, which is said to resonate with both new and traditional audiences. Originally from Lebanon, Ghotmeh brings a worldview shaped by her native country that reaches across cultures. Images of the selected design have not yet been released. 

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).

For its inaugural presentation during the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia (Biennale Architettura 2025), Qatar presents a two-part exhibition organized by the Future Art Mill Museum. The presentation took place at both the new Qatar Pavilion in the Giardini and ACP–Palazzo Franchetti. Central to the Qatar Pavilion is the Community Centre, an installation by acclaimed Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari. The work will explore themes of community and shared spaces, aligning with the broader exhibition “Beyti Beytak. My home is your home. La mia casa è la tua casa.,” which investigates how hospitality and traditions of welcome manifest in contemporary architecture from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia (MENASA). The exhibition will feature more than 20 architects from the MENASA region, presenting both modern pioneers and contemporary practitioners.

Among the modern architects are Raj Rewal from India, Nayyar Ali Dada from Pakistan, Abdel Wahed El Wakil from Egypt, and Minnette de Silva from Sri Lanka. Their work will be shown alongside contemporary voices such as Marina Tabassum and Nabil Haque from Bangladesh, Sameep Padora and Vastu Shilpa from India, Daaz Studio from Iran, Abeer Seikaly from Jordan, Sumaya Dabbagh from the UAE, Liz Diller from the USA, Meriem Shabani from Iran, and New South Studio from France.

The announcement of Qatar’s permanent pavilion follows the signing of a Protocol of Cooperation between Qatar Museums and the Municipality of Venice in June 2024, an agreement that aims to foster long-term cultural exchange between Qatar, Venice, and Italy.

La Biennale di Venezia is the world’s pre-eminent gathering in art and architecture, and the Giardini is the historic landscape where extraordinary pavilions stand as ambassadors for their nations. Qatar is proud to take its place in this international assembly, advancing our role in cultural diplomacy and providing a platform for creative voices from Qatar and the MENASA region. — Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani

A conversation between H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa and Lina Ghotmeh, moderated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, will take place at ACP-Palazzo Franchetti in Venice on May 8. Other events taking place in the context of the Biennale include Beyond the Prize, a new discussion forum that explores the impact of architecture awards, as well as an exhibition honoring Donna Haraway and Italo Rota, recipients of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at this edition of the Venice Biennale. Among the more than 750 participants are other pavilions from Qatar’s region, including Lebanon, which presents an exploration of ecocide and environmental healing, and Saudi Arabia, whose pavilion, designed by Syn Architects, offers a reflection on contemporary urban conditions through spatial practice and alternative architectural pedagogy.

We invite you to check out ArchDaily’s comprehensive coverage of the 2025 Venice Biennale.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on February 17 and updated on April 9, 2025, and on May 13th, following the official announcement of the international competition results and the release of the fisrt renderings showcasing the proposal.