Architecture, Memory, and Reform in the Heart of Bukhara

In the winding alleys of Bukhara, where centuries of trade, poetry, and reform have left their imprint, a new cultural landmark is quietly taking shape.

Architect Lina Ghotmeh, whose work often balances memory and modernity, has been commissioned by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) to transform a historic residence into the Jadids’ Legacy Museum, a space dedicated to the reformist thinkers who once envisioned a new future for Central Asia.

A House with History The building, formerly the home of Usmon Khodjaev—a central figure of the Jadid movement and the first president of the short-lived Bukhara People’s Republic—will be restored and reimagined.

Khodjaev’s life journey, from Istanbul’s intellectual circles to establishing Jadid schools and later assuming diplomatic roles, mirrors the museum’s mission: grounded in tradition yet oriented toward transformation. Architecture as Reflection Ghotmeh, known for her Archaeology of the Future philosophy, approaches the project not as a reconstruction but as a dialogue.

“This museum allows us to reflect on the courage of those who placed education, women, and cultural renewal at the heart of societal change,” she notes. Her previous works—such as London’s Serpentine Pavilion and Beirut’s Stone Garden—demonstrate her ability to weave architecture with narrative and material with meaning. A Cultural Ecosystem The museum becomes part of a constellation of initiatives led by ACDF to elevate Uzbekistan’s cultural identity on the global stage.

From the Bukhara Biennial to the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Tashkent and the forthcoming National Museum by Tadao Ando, the country is crafting a new cultural landscape—one that honors its past while embracing contemporary vision. A Gift of Continuity In a gesture both personal and symbolic, Professor Temur Khodja, son of Usmon Khodjaev, has pledged the property to the Ministry of Culture.

The museum will not only preserve the Jadids’ intellectual legacy but will also invite new generations to engage with the enduring ideas of reform, literacy, and inclusion.