Hasan Fanhi Egyptian architect. Date of Birth: 23.03.1900 Country: Egypt

1. Egyptian Architect
2. Project of Relocating Sheikh Abd el-Gurna
3. Architecture for the Poor
4. Professional Career
5. Recognition

Egyptian Architect

Hasan Fathy was an Egyptian architect who gained worldwide recognition for his innovative use of materials and his community-driven approach to design. He graduated from Cairo University in 1926 and began his career in the 1930s.

Project of Relocating Sheikh Abd el-Gurna

Fathy became famous after successfully implementing a project to relocate the village of Sheikh Abd el-Gurna from its original location in 1945-1948. The village was situated directly above ancient Egyptian tombs, and the government decided to relocate its residents. However, there were no funds allocated for this or a desire to do so. Fathy designed a new village using unburnt clay bricks and proposed that the residents independently build their own homes according to their needs and preferences. He would visit the village during three seasons to provide guidance and advice on the projects and construction techniques. Fathy also personally constructed a model house for the village. Although the New Gurna was never completed or inhabited, the project received extensive coverage in the European press.

Architecture for the Poor

Fathy further developed the ideas from this project and detailed them in his book "Architecture for the Poor" (1973). In this book, he outlined his vision of inclusive and participatory architecture.

Professional Career

From 1949 to 1952, Fathy led the school construction department at the Egyptian Ministry of Education. In 1954, he became the head of the architectural department at the Faculty of Arts at Cairo University. However, in 1957, citing bureaucratic obstacles in implementing his plans, he left Egypt and worked for some time in a group of architects led by Constantinos Doxiadis. He worked on projects in India, Pakistan, and Africa. Fathy returned to Egypt in 1963 and collaborated with various international organizations, ultimately realizing about 160 architectural projects.

Recognition

Throughout his career, Fathy received numerous international awards, including the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1980. His work continues to inspire architects and designers around the world.