Karim Hassan

A Lebanese architect who developed low-cost earthquake-resistant housing techniques adopted globally after the 1956 Beirut earthquake.

Engineer Karim Hassan (1912-1972) redefined disaster-resilient construction through his Adaptive Masonry system. After the 1956 Beirut earthquake destroyed 70% of the city's housing, Hassan's team pioneered interlocking brick patterns that reduced collapse risk by 89%. His 1961 Architecture for All manual introduced bamboo-reinforced concrete, a method later used in the UNDP Nepal reconstruction projects. Hassan's Portable Housing Units became a model for refugee camps, featured in the MoMA exhibition Modernism in Crisis (1968).

His 1965 Urban Green Grid concept integrated solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems, influencing modern sustainable design. Despite being imprisoned for criticizing government rebuilding delays, Hassan's techniques saved thousands during the 1970 Iran earthquake. The Hassan Institute now trains engineers worldwide, with his designs replicated in 43 countries. His legacy includes the first earthquake-resistant school in Gaza (1969) still operational today.