Hassan Fathy

Hassan Fathy (March 23, 1900 – November 30, 1989) was a famous Egyptian architect. He was born in Egypt and became well-known for his special way of building. Instead of using modern materials and styles from other countries, Fathy used old methods that worked better in Egypt’s warm climate.

Fathy believed in using natural materials like adobe, which is made from mud and straw. He showed that these traditional building ways were strong and good for the environment. His buildings helped people live comfortably without needing lots of energy to keep cool.

Because of his great work, Fathy received many honors. In 1980, he won the Aga Khan Chairman's Award for Architecture, which is a big award for architects. His ideas about using local materials and methods 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 was inspired by the simple designs of Upper Egyptian and rural areas. He created a beautiful home for his wife by the Nile in Maadi, though it was later torn down to build a new road. He also designed a special building to honor his wife's brother in 1947.

Career

Hassan Fathy was a talented architect who designed about 160 buildings, from small homes to large communities with schools, markets, and places for people to gather. 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 became well-known for helping build New Gourna, a new village near Luxor, to move people from an old village close to important ancient sites. He focused on using cheap and local materials, like mud bricks, because they were better for Egypt's economy. He also tried to include 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 passed away from natural causes on November 30, 1989, 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 even 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 archive, which includes his architectural plans, photographs, and documents, is kept at the Rare Books and Special Collections Library at the American University in Cairo. The collection has about 5000 architectural plans, 15,000 photographs, and many letters, writings, and other papers.

Publications

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

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