Hassan Fathy
October 20, 2008 
Designer We Love
Hassan Fathy
For More Information
Remembering the Master and Hassan Fathy: Architecture for the Poor
Quotable Quotes
"Architecture is music frozen in place. And music is architecture frozen in time."
"A house where the children play happily is a happy state
"An architect should live in the spaces he has created. If he is happy, he deserves credit. If he is unhappy, then he is to be discredited."
Background
Born in 1900 in Alexandria, Egypt
Graduated in 1926 from Cairo University; studied agriculture, then switched to architecture
Early 1940s rural hospitals project focused on Nubian construction techniques he discovered in Upper Egypt using natural materials and housing styles
Years of distinction with projects ranging from community housing projects, temporary housing for refugees, and the Nasser Mausoleum
Died in 1989
What We Love
Every project he ever undertook bore the distinct mark of a perfectionist, and he was someone who thoughtfully considered the human beings who would be living and/or working in the spaces he designed.
Fathy was always a gracious person, opening his home each afternoon to visitors, including friends, families, neighbors, and strangers who were admirers. The food he served his guests was always chosen with care, too. He makes us remember that homes are meant to be happy centers for hospitality.
We loved his goals of making comfortable, low-cost housing with natural building materials. His mud brick homes were just the ticket to meet the climate and economic needs of rural communities, but these are building styles and techniques that should inspire all sustainable building worldwide.
Hassan Fathy Sampler
Photo credits: KmtSpace, Vital Signs, Flickr, Tour Egypt, Katarxis, Al Ahram, pushpullbar
Reader Comments (4)
I love love love his work
We have a couple of houses in Jordan that were designed by this master architect and it was great seeing them and being inside them.
Thanks for posting.
Thank you, Querat, for writing in! We were in Egypt in 1988 and explored his homes; they are truly incredible and will live on for all time. Great soul, great heart, great humility, and great design.
We are looking for a speaker to lead a symposium about Hassan Fathy in our building ( Alpha Blanca) designed by him in 1978 and used by our cultural foundation
Hassan Fathy is worth being among the most inspirational and creative architects. I'm unhappy that his designs were not adopted to be the major design or the Egyptian villages. We lost much by ignoring his legacy.. but I think some still love his way of designation in Egypt and take some ideas to be embedded in their works.