Hassan Fathy

Egyptian architect who pioneered sustainable earthen architecture using traditional building techniques

Hassan Fathy (1900-1989) revolutionized architectural practices through his commitment to sustainable building using local materials. A graduate of Cairo University, he designed the village of New Gourna (1946-1952), using mud-brick construction that harmonized with Egypt's desert environment. His approach combined ancient Nubian building techniques with modern planning principles, creating energy-efficient homes without electricity. The ArchDaily featured his work as a precursor to today's green architecture movements.

Despite government abandonment of New Gourna in 1952, Fathy's concepts influenced global sustainable design. His book 《Architecture for the Poor》 became a landmark text, translated into 20 languages. He designed over 100 projects across 15 countries, including the UNESCO-sponsored village of Siwa Oasis. His principles now form the basis of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture criteria. The Hassan Fathy Archive (hassanfathy.org) preserves his 6,000+ drawings documenting vernacular architecture.