Hassan Fathy

Hassan Fathy

Hassan Fathy (March 23, 1900 – November 30, 1989) was a famous Egyptian architect. He was born in Egypt and became known for his special building style.

Fathy did not use modern materials from other countries. Instead, he used old methods that worked well in Egypt’s warm climate.

Fathy liked to use natural materials like adobe, made from mud and straw. He showed that these traditional ways were strong and good for the environment. His buildings helped people stay comfortable without using lots of energy to keep cool.

For his great work, Fathy received many honors. In 1980, he won the Aga Khan Chairman's Award for Architecture. His ideas inspired many other architects around the world.

Personal life

Hassan Fathy was born in Alexandria to a middle-class Upper Egyptian family. He studied to become an architect and graduated in 1926 from King Fuad University, now called Cairo University. He married Aziza Hassanein, who was the sister of Ahmed Hassanein. Fathy liked the simple designs of Upper Egyptian and rural areas. He built a beautiful home for his wife by the Nile in Maadi, but it was torn down later for a new road. He also designed a special building in 1947 to honor his wife's brother.

Career

Hassan Fathy was a talented architect. He designed about 160 buildings, including small homes and large communities with schools, markets, and gathering places. He used old building methods and materials, like mud bricks, instead of modern ones. He taught local people how to build their own homes.

Fathy helped build New Gourna, a new village near Luxor, for people to move from an old village close to important ancient sites. He used cheap and local materials, like mud bricks, because they were better for Egypt's economy. He included the families moving there in his plans. Even though the project faced challenges and wasn’t fully finished, New Gourna still stands today.

Later in his career, Fathy returned to Cairo and worked on school buildings for the government. He traveled to many countries, sharing his ideas about building with natural materials that fit the local climate. In 1980, he received an important award for his work in architecture. He also designed buildings in the United States using mud bricks.

Death

Hassan Fathy died from natural causes on November 30, 1989. He passed away at his home in Cairo, Egypt.

Legacy

Hassan Fathy is often called the most famous architect in Egypt since Imhotep. His work in New Gourna was praised in newspapers and magazines around the world. He wrote a book about this project.

Fathy’s buildings were designed to stay cool using natural methods. He used thick walls and special shapes from old buildings. He also brought back an old building style called the Nubian vault. He studied how to use natural airflow to keep spaces comfortable.

Collection

Hassan Fathy’s collection of plans, photos, and documents is kept at the Rare Books and Special Collections Library at the American University in Cairo. The collection has many plans, photos, and letters.

Publications

Hassan Fathy wrote many books. His first book, Architecture for the Poor, was published in 1969. It was first called Al-Gurna: A Tale of Two Villages.

There are also books about Hassan Fathy by other authors. These include works by El-Wakil, Damluji and Bertini, and Dávid with Vasáros.