Lebanon’s Lina Ghotmeh Announced as GAM Architecture & Design Award Winner

Prof. Lina Ghotmeh. Asharq Al-Awsat
Prof. Lina Ghotmeh. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Lebanon’s Lina Ghotmeh Announced as GAM Architecture & Design Award Winner

Prof. Lina Ghotmeh. Asharq Al-Awsat
Prof. Lina Ghotmeh. Asharq Al-Awsat

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has announced Prof. Lina Ghotmeh, architect and professor of architecture, as the winner of the first Great Arab Minds (GAM) award in the architecture and design category, in recognition of her timeless contributions to global architecture.

In a tweet published on his official X account, Sheikh Mohammed congratulated Ghotmeh on winning the first award in this category of GAM, the Arab world's largest movement launched in 2022 to search for exceptional Arab talents in various fields. Ghotmeh's insightful work and research highlight the intimate relationship between architecture and nature.

Sheikh Mohammed said that architecture and architectural landmarks are the foundation of the distinguishing features that set cities and communities apart, and the building blocks of their identities and values, making them easily recognized. He added that they are also timeless tales of the creative outputs of humanity and the rise of civilizations.

Ghotmeh has a remarkable track record in her field. She has overseen the development of over 65 global architectural projects, including renowned museums, exhibitions and cultural buildings. More specifically, Ghotmeh conducts in-depth analyses of environments and meticulously selects materials that are not only suitable for each setting but also capable of withstanding harsh conditions. Her unique approach ensures that all her projects are evolved and practical outcomes of her research on coexisting with nature and the surrounding environment.

Ghotmeh's most notable works is a building near the industrial port of Beirut, which survived the 2020 explosion, having been designed using innovative techniques and select local materials.



Large Sinkhole Appears in English Village, Forces Evacuations 

18 February 2025, United Kingdom, Godstone: A view of the scene in Godstone after a sinkhole appeared on Monday night. (Jonathan Brady/PA Wire/dpa)
18 February 2025, United Kingdom, Godstone: A view of the scene in Godstone after a sinkhole appeared on Monday night. (Jonathan Brady/PA Wire/dpa)
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Large Sinkhole Appears in English Village, Forces Evacuations 

18 February 2025, United Kingdom, Godstone: A view of the scene in Godstone after a sinkhole appeared on Monday night. (Jonathan Brady/PA Wire/dpa)
18 February 2025, United Kingdom, Godstone: A view of the scene in Godstone after a sinkhole appeared on Monday night. (Jonathan Brady/PA Wire/dpa)

A large sinkhole has appeared in a southern English village, swallowing up at least one garden and forcing authorities to evacuate residents from around 30 homes.

The development of the sinkhole in the Surrey village of Godstone, which appeared on Monday and had grown to at least 20 meters on Tuesday, has been declared a major incident by local agencies.

The BBC said the evacuated properties were built about three years ago, on the site of a former sand quarry. One of the residents, Noosh Miri, said her family was among those evacuated.

"We got a violent knocking on the door," Miri said. "As I opened the door, it sounded like I was in a waterfall because the sinkhole was right in front of my doorstep."

Another resident, Rez Mira, told the BBC his garden fell into the sinkhole: "It's collapsed, the wall will come down, for sure... we're terrified."

Surrey County Council (SCC) said investigations were ongoing, and asked people to avoid the area while work was carried out. Residents from within the cordon were being supported with advice around accommodation, the council said.

"The Local Resilience Forum will continue to meet throughout this incident to ensure everything is being done to resolve the situation as quickly and safely as possible," said SCC's Carl Bussey.

SES Water said in the early hours of Tuesday it was aware of a burst water main pipe in Godstone High Street. It said on Wednesday it had been able to restore supplies to affected properties. Electricity has also been restored.