Architecture in 2023: Lina Ghotmeh's Rise, Saudi Megaprojects, and David Adjaye's Fall
The year 2023 was pivotal for architecture globally, marked by the ascent of Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh, who designed the Serpentine Pavilion and a Hermès workshop in Normandy, and was commissioned for a museum in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia dominated headlines with controversial megaprojects like The Line and Mukaab, showcased at the Venice Architecture Biennale's 'Zero Gravity Urbanism' exhibition, involving firms like Studio Fuksas, BIG, and Adjaye Associates. David Adjaye faced sexual misconduct allegations from three former employees, leading to his withdrawal from several projects, including the African Futures Institute in Accra. The Biennale, curated by Lesley Lokko, attracted 285,000 visitors. Norman Foster and Shigeru Ban engaged in post-disaster reconstruction in Ukraine and Morocco, respectively. In Italy, the cancellation of the Loggia Isozaki project in Florence sparked controversy, while cultural buildings like Aviva Studios by OMA in Manchester and the Richard Gilder Center by Studio Gang opened. Italian architects faced poor working conditions, with 59% lacking contracts and 90% without additional protections. Notable deaths included Paolo Portoghesi, Andrea Branzi, and Balkrishna Doshi. Carlo Ratti was appointed curator of the next Architecture Biennale.
Key facts
- Lina Ghotmeh designed the Serpentine Pavilion and a Hermès workshop in Normandy.
- Ghotmeh was commissioned for a museum in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, alongside Asif Khan.
- Saudi Arabia's megaprojects include The Line, Mukaab, and Qiddiya Gaming and Esports District.
- David Adjaye was accused of sexual misconduct by three former employees in a Financial Times investigation.
- Adjaye stepped back from projects including the African Futures Institute in Accra.
- The 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale, curated by Lesley Lokko, sold 285,000 tickets.
- Norman Foster continued work on Kharkiv reconstruction and launched a sustainable cities educational project.
- Shigeru Ban proposed temporary housing in Morocco after the earthquake.
- The Loggia Isozaki project in Florence was cancelled, prompting a letter from 94 Italian architecture orders.
- Aviva Studios by OMA opened in Manchester; Richard Gilder Center by Studio Gang opened in New York.
- 59% of Italian architects reported no contract with their main client; 90% lack additional protections.
- Notable deaths: Paolo Portoghesi, Andrea Branzi, Balkrishna Doshi, Rafael Viñoly, Raymond Moriyama.
- Carlo Ratti was named curator of the next Architecture Biennale.
Entities
Artists
- Lina Ghotmeh
- Asif Khan
- David Adjaye
- Lesley Lokko
- Norman Foster
- Shigeru Ban
- Carlo Ratti
- Ellen van Loon
- Renzo Piano
- Tadao Ando
- Paolo Portoghesi
- Andrea Branzi
- Balkrishna Doshi
- Rafael Viñoly
- Raymond Moriyama
- Piero Sartogo
- Italo Lupi
- Maurice Nio
- Giusto Puri Purini
- Jean Louis Cohen
- Renée Gailhoustet
- Beverly Willis
- Stefano Boeri
- Mario Cucinella
- David Chipperfield
- Lorenza Baroncelli
- Andrea Crociani
- Valentina Silvestrini
Institutions
- Serpentine Gallery
- Hermès
- Estonian National Museum
- Venice Architecture Biennale
- Studio Fuksas
- BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group
- Adjaye Associates
- Financial Times
- African Futures Institute
- Domus
- Norman Foster Institute
- Voluntary Architects’ Network (VAN)
- National School of Architecture of Marrakech
- National Library of Israel
- Herzog & de Meuron
- Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design
- SANAA
- HQ Architects
- Ordine degli Architetti di Firenze
- Fondazione Architetti Firenze
- Fondazione Michelucci
- Uffizi
- Artribune
- Palazzetto di Nervi
- Aviva Studios
- Factory International
- Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA)
- Museo Egizio
- Istanbul Modern
- Renzo Piano Workshop Building
- Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation
- American Museum of Natural History
- Heatherwick Studio
- teamLab Borderless
- MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM
- MPavilion
- Palazzo dei Diamanti
- Labics
- UE Mies Awards
- Triennale Milano
- MAXXI
- Laboratorio Roma050
- Pritzker Prize
- Expo Osaka 2025
- Mario Cucinella Architects
- Qiddiya Gaming and Esports District
- Populous
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Normandy
- France
- Paris
- Tartu
- Estonia
- Beirut
- Lebanon
- AlUla
- Saudi Arabia
- Venice
- Italy
- Abu Dhabi
- United Arab Emirates
- New Delhi
- India
- Accra
- Ghana
- Ukraine
- Kharkiv
- Japan
- Morocco
- Marrakech
- Middle East
- Jerusalem
- Israel
- Florence
- Manchester
- Turin
- Istanbul
- Turkey
- New York
- United States
- Tokyo
- Australia
- Rome
- Osaka