HASSAN FATHY

- EGYPTIAN MASTER ARCHITECT FATHER OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN //

HUMANITARIAN // TRADITIONALIST

Introduction
An accomplished architect with nearly
over 160 separate projects.
An ameteur musician, inventor,
dramatist and a trilingual
professor-engineer-architect.
Passionate in the traditional arts and
crafts.
Great humanitarian and erudite in the
natural sciences. Influences his
designs.

Timeline Of Life Events

Birth of
Hassan
Fathy

Moved to
Cairo while
developing
passion for
arts.

Graduated
with
Engineering
and
Architecture
qualifications.

Professor at
Faculty of
Fine Arts.

Hired to build
New Gourna
Village
*

Director of
the
Educational
Building
Department
in the
Ministry of
Education.

Head of
Architecture
at the Faculty
of Fine Arts.
*

1900

1908

1926

1930

1946

1949

1953

NEW GOURNA VILLAGE

1946

WIND CATCHER

NATURAL LIGHT

New Gourna Village Video

PROJECTS -1953

ALEXANDRIA
RESTHOUSE

MUHAMMAD MUSA VILLA

HARRANIYA
WEAVING VILLAGE

FARES SCHOOL

Timeline Of Life Events

Doxiadis
Organization
in Greece.
Traditional
ideas to Iraq
and Pakistan.

Returned to
Egypt to
conducting
public
speaking and
consultation.

Published a
book
Architecture
For The
Poor.
*

Awarded the
Aga Khan
Award for
architecture
at the U.N
Habitat
Conference.

Awarded the
International
Balzan
Award.

Awarded the
Right
Livelihood
Award
(Alternative
of Nobel
Prize).

Death of
Hassan
Fathy.

1959

1963

1969

1976

1980

1980

1989

Describes his
experiences building
the New Gourna
Village.
Highlights the
effectiveness of
using traditional mud
bricks in contrast to
the modern concrete
and steel.
Traditional ideas that
are congruent with
nature.

AWARDS - 1976 to 1980

AGA KHAN AWARD - Awards architectural concepts that addresses the needs
and aspirations of the islamic society.
INTERNATIONAL BALZAN PRIZE - Awarded for innovative ideas which promote
humanities, the natural sciences, and peace endeavors.
RIGHT LIVELIHOOD PRIZE (ALT OF NOBEL PRIZE) - Award given to support
those who have the answers to the challenges of the time.

Design Philosophy
Nubian mud building techniques
(Vernacular Architecture) using arches
and vaults to construct roofing without
expensive formwork.
Improve the lives of those who are
powerless.
Elevate the standard of living for the people
he served over fancy western materials and
technologies.
Passionate towards Pharaonic period of
architecture in building construction.

Vernacular Architecture is an architectural style that is designed based on

local needs, availability of construction materials and reflecting local traditions.

ARCHES AND VAULTS

NEW GOURNA VILLAGE

DOMES ON CUBOID BLOCKS

NEW GOURNA VILLAGE

FATHYS HOUSE
MASTERPIECE

FATHYS HOUSE
BUILT IN 1971.
LOCATED IN SIDI KERIR,
EGYPT.
LOCATED AT THE NORTH
COAST OF THE
MEDITERRANEAN SEA.

Design Intention
Low cost yet beautiful
Traditional Ideas & Influences
Philosophy
Sustainable desert settlement

Design Intention
while all the elements of design were of
the most traditional, all the materials
were of local origin, yet the building is
absolutely contemporary

Arabic design
Religious & Cultural Influences
Using local materials and building
elements and design

Materials
Local Material: Limestone & Mud bricks Very strong and durable, easy to work
with.
Gives a sense of homogeneity as the whole house, exterior and interior (wall,
ceiling, floors, roof etc) is made with the same material.

Building elements
Thick, Screened Walls
Mashrabiya (Windows)
Nubian Vaults
Arches
Domes

Nubian Vaults
A type of mud-brick vaults
(curved surface structure)
revived by Hassan Fathy.
Can be built simply without
any frames or support.

Example image shows Nubian vaults being constructed

by hand

Geometric composition
Two domes (bigger and smaller)
Nubian Vaults, geometric curved surface

Combinations of rectilinear forms

This combinations balanced the whole

composition and give stability to the
facade.

PLAN
Rectangular plan
Hierarchical
Spatial organization

E2

E1

15000

E1

E2

9000

PLAN

Facade
The facade that face the public
side is mostly thick walls with
small windows.
-

Gives Privacy.

Whereas the facade that face

the sea is slightly
more open.
-

Ventilation

PUBLIC & PRIVATE

Towards the sea

LIGHT PENETRATION

LIGHT PENETRATION

These openings gives natural lighting (and

also ventilation) for the interior

Small circular holes on the domes gives

further lighting for the main multi-purpose
room

VENTILATION
Fathy House takes advantage of
the wind to cool down the
interior of the house.
-

More sustainable in a hot

climate

Blue lines indicates the direction

and circulation of the wind.
The thick walls also acts as a
thermal barrier.

References
"An Architect's House: A Paradigm Of A Living Tradition". Architecture.knoji.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 31 Aug. 2016.
"Hassan Fathy". Slideshare.net. N.p., 2016. Web. 31 Aug. 2016.
"Hassan Fathy Biography". Thefamouspeople.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 31 Aug. 2016.
"The Work Of Hassan Fathy In Egypt". Ne.jp. N.p., 2016. Web. 31 Aug. 2016.
"What Became Of Hassan FathyS New Gourna Model Village? | Green Prophet". Greenprophet.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 31
Aug. 2016.
"Saudi Aramco World :The Legacy Of Hassan Fathy". Archive.aramcoworld.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 31 Aug. 2016.