Hassan Fathy

Hassan Fathy was an Egyptian architect renowned for his advocacy of traditional building methods and rural housing. He championed the adaptation of existing Egyptian architectural styles, such as Mamluk and Nubian, and pioneered the use of elements like the malkaf (windcatcher) and mashrabiya (wooden lattice screen). Fathy's work emphasized mud-brick construction, creating structures that were distinctive, economical, and environmentally friendly. He is sometimes called the "Barefoot Architect" for his promotion of this style.1

One of Fathy's notable projects was the uncompleted housing project in New Gourna, Luxor, designed in the 1940s to relocate villagers who were economically dependent on looting tombs. Fathy envisioned a village with distinct zones for each tribe, featuring public spaces, courtyards, and narrow alleys leading to private family homes. He also planned for an agricultural marketplace, hotel, and craft market to provide new income sources. However, the villagers refused to move, and construction halted with only a fifth of the village completed, leaving it largely uninhabited except for the mosque.1