A campus expansion to take shape in Doha
The Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha has unveiled plans for a significant campus expansion, to be led by architect Lina Ghotmeh. This project coincides with the museum’s fifteenth anniversary, marking a transition toward a broader role that integrates exhibitions with creative production, research, and community engagement.
The first phase of the expansion focuses on the ground floor, where a newly designed lobby and library establish a welcoming social space within the museum. Inspired by the concept of a majlis, the open layout features modular furniture that encourages reading, conversation, and public events, while remaining flexible for future needs. Lina Ghotmeh’s current work in Qatar also includes the design of the country’s first permanent national pavilion at the Giardini for La Biennale di Venezia, announced earlier this year (see designboom’s coverage here).
Mathaf announces a major campus expansion in Doha | visualizations © Lina Ghotmeh
lina ghotmeh’s library, café, and atrium
In this initial ground-level phase, architect Lina Ghotmeh sets the foundation for Mathaf’s expanded vision. The new library will feature art publications from across the region, alongside museum and Qatar Museums titles, creating a welcoming environment that encourages both extended visits and repeated returns. The addition of a café and an expanded book and gift shop will further animate the ground floor, transforming it into a vibrant daily entry point for visitors to the campus.
Within the atrium, new visual markers reinforce the museum’s civic identity. A striking large-scale portrait by Yan Pei-Ming joins previous commissions honoring Qatar’s leadership, situating the refreshed interior within the museum’s broader narrative and highlighting the atrium as a communal gathering space.
the Arab Museum marks its fifteenth anniversary with a reconfigured ground floor
upcoming plans range from displays to makers’ spaces
Looking ahead, the expansion will extend beyond the current building, transforming the existing plaza and adjacent service areas into purpose-built studios for artists and designers. Facilities for ceramics will enable large-scale production, with shared workspaces and specialized equipment developed in partnership with practicing artists. Additional areas dedicated to glasswork, woodworking, and material experimentation will be complemented by a sound studio created in collaboration with composer and artist Tarek Atoui.
Together, these new creative environments will support a residency program, positioning the Arab Museum as a center for sustained artistic practice. Upcoming exhibitions for the anniversary, including projects by Atoui and Gabriel Chaile, will demonstrate how making, research, and display are integrated throughout the campus.
a majlis-inspired library introduces flexible spaces for reading and gathering
a unified design language
Lina Ghotmeh’s design approach throughout the site emphasizes continuity and material integrity. Existing warehouses will be converted into studios, unified by a consistent architectural exterior that brings harmony to the varied building forms. This curtain-like façade manages light and scale, establishing a clear visual identity for the campus.
At ground level, a seamless earthen surface will connect buildings and outdoor areas, creating a landscape responsive to the region’s climate. The expansion reimagines Mathaf as a dynamic space for learning and creative production, strengthening its mission through an architecture that accommodates daily activity, long visits, and evolving modes of artistic work.
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