HassanHassan FathyFathy (1900(1900--1989)1989)•• Egyptian architect.Egyptian architect.•• Interested in Interested in

“housing for the “housing for the poor.”poor.”

•• How to provide How to provide cheap, cheap, comfortable comfortable housing for the housing for the three billion poor three billion poor people of the people of the world?world?

Village of New Gourna (1945Village of New Gourna (1945--48)48)•• In 1945, asked to design and build new In 1945, asked to design and build new

village for 7,000 relocated Egyptian village for 7,000 relocated Egyptian peasantspeasants——the the GoruniGoruni..

•• Their village close to Valley of Kings.Their village close to Valley of Kings.•• GournisGournis were tomb robbers, destroying were tomb robbers, destroying

priceless archeological treasures.priceless archeological treasures.

Mud BrickMud Brick•• Gourni extremely poor.Gourni extremely poor.•• Building materials & Building materials &

methods must be methods must be inexpensive:inexpensive:

1. Must be able to 1. Must be able to build houses build houses themselves.themselves.

2. Use of mud brick, 2. Use of mud brick, the main local the main local building material.building material.

Thermal Thermal PropertiesProperties

•• Mud brick conducts Mud brick conducts heat slowly.heat slowly.

•• As gets hot outside, As gets hot outside, stays cool inside.stays cool inside.

•• As cools outside at As cools outside at night, stays warm night, stays warm

inside.inside.•• Inside temperature Inside temperature

moderated.moderated.

Key Structural Problem:Key Structural Problem:•• How to build roofs out of mud brick?How to build roofs out of mud brick?•• Found builders farther up Nile who still Found builders farther up Nile who still

could build mudcould build mud--brick vaults and domes.brick vaults and domes.•• They come to New Gourna to train Gourni.They come to New Gourna to train Gourni.

Plan of New GournaBoy’s School

Village Square

Girl’s School

Mosque Market

Divided into Five NeighborhoodsDivided into Five Neighborhoods•• Old Gourna had 5 tribes in 4 neighborhoods.Old Gourna had 5 tribes in 4 neighborhoods.•• New Gourna also split into 4 neighborhoods.New Gourna also split into 4 neighborhoods.

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Hassassna & Atteyat (“pious”)

Horobot (“warriors”)

Ghabat (“forest people”)

Baerat (from village near Gourna)

BadanaBadana•• Group of 10Group of 10--20 20

families related families related by blood.by blood.

•• FathyFathy organized organized badanasbadanas in in village blocks village blocks around around courtyards.courtyards.

HousesHouses•• Include openInclude open--air kitchen, bedrooms, outdoor air kitchen, bedrooms, outdoor

living room, and stable for cow.living room, and stable for cow.•• Organized around courtyard.Organized around courtyard.

Entrance (1)

Cow Stalls (7)

Bedroom (4)

Toilet

Kitchen (6)Oven (5)

Fodder (9)

Courtyard (3)

Functions of House CourtyardFunctions of House Courtyard•• Provides shade.Provides shade.•• captures cool air of captures cool air of

evening.evening.•• Place for children to Place for children to

play.play.•• Place for social Place for social

events.events.•• Brings down sky, Brings down sky,

which reflects the which reflects the oneness of Allah.oneness of Allah.

New New Gourna’sGourna’s Three SeasonsThree Seasons11stst year (August 1945year (August 1945——May 1946):May 1946):

20 experimental houses and mosque 20 experimental houses and mosque foundation laid.foundation laid.

22ndnd year (October 1946year (October 1946——January 1947):January 1947):several public buildings constructed (crafts several public buildings constructed (crafts khan & portion of market) and mosque khan & portion of market) and mosque foundation foundation relaidrelaid..

33rdrd year (September 1947year (September 1947——May 1948):May 1948):80 houses built and more public buildings 80 houses built and more public buildings (boy’s school, crafts school, village hall, & (boy’s school, crafts school, village hall, & threatrethreatre).).

Completed Structures of New Gournamosque

market place

crafts khancrafts exhibition

theatrevillage hall crafts

school

80 houses

New Gourna Today

Reasons for FailureReasons for Failure1.1. Lack of governmental support.Lack of governmental support.2.2. Gourni did not want to leave their old Gourni did not want to leave their old

village.village.

Significance of Significance of Fathy’sFathy’s workwork1.1. Exemplifies an approach to design that Exemplifies an approach to design that

takes into account the needs of people.takes into account the needs of people.2.2. Introduces us Westerners to a culture and Introduces us Westerners to a culture and

people vastly different from our own.people vastly different from our own.

Key question: Would Key question: Would Fathy’sFathy’s approach work if approach work if it had full governmental support and if the it had full governmental support and if the client group genuinely needed a new client group genuinely needed a new place to live?place to live?