The first book on the philosophy and work of Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy
This first dedicated and cohesive book on Egyptian architect Hassan Fathy (1900-89) compiles an rich amount of diverse material on the modernist architect known for his work developing traditional Arab architecture alongside principles of modernism. The substantial volume combines previously unpublished drawings, personal letters, interviews and photography unfolding the story of his philosophy and work.
The book celebrates a growing global interest in Fathy’s work at a time when the history of architecture is being rebalanced as colonialism begins to be reassessed through a more critical lens. Opening remarks place Fathy alongside a cohort of other modernist architects working within their national contexts who have recently been given the prominence they deserve including Jose Plecnik in Slovenia, Pikionis and Constantin Doxiadid in Greece – who Fathy worked with from 1957-1961 – and Luis Barragan in Mexico.
Fathy was in search of a modernism that would reflect the local context of Egypt, and throughout his career his aim was always to create an architecture that could be a model for the people who needed it the most.
Written by Salma Samar Damluji, an architect and writer who worked directly with Fathy, and architect and scholar Viola Bertini who researched a PhD on Fathy at IUAV Venice, the book takes on a personal approach from the very first pages with a series of forewords that highlight memories of Fathy, quotes and set the local scene within which he worked.
The first part of the book follows Fathy’s research and participation within Egyptian culture, community and construction, alongside architecture, that all became integral to his design thinking: as a Sufi Muslim, he was aware of the history and practice of Islamic architecture; he was also a playwright, completing The story of al Mashrabiyyah (1942) and even designing costumes for it; he was a painter, designing architecture in watercolours; he was a journalist, interviewing community members about their experience of life.
‘If you want to design for the people, you have to go and understand their way of life,’ Fathy is quoted in the book.
Fathy’s lifelong interest was in housing and collective living for which he created multiple models and wrote extensively about. The New Gourna project (1943-7) defined a courtyard system that combined residential and public life, and set a precedent for future work including New Baris (1965), amongst other housing developments, master plans and community schemes in Egypt, Pakistan and Iraq.
Beyond design, he also studied construction, learning from history and the local vernacular to develop modern approaches to traditional Egyptian techniques including earth construction. The second part of the book explores this; publishing The Mud Brick Manual: Vault and Dome Construction written in 1984 by Fathy with Salma Samar Damluji, a text that sought to shine light into processes that could help building dwellings for large numbers of the poor in developing countries. The book also publishes an interview with master builder Alāʾ al Dīn Muṣṭafa who worked closely with Fathy on numerous projects.
Beyond a book, Hassan Fathy: Earth & Utopia is like an album or even a scrapbook, bringing together diverse source materials, it is a valuable document for learning about Fathy, the challenges he faced and his importance today in Egypt and globally.
Mit Rehan or the The Casaroni Villa, 1980, Giza. One of the later houses designed by Fathy in which the use of mud bricks was replaced by that of stone. View of the main patio at the villa, with the octagonal water fountain in the middle and the main qā a on the right, 2010.
INFORMATION
‘Hassan Fathy: Earth & Utopia’, £65, is published by Laurence King and available from 15 October
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Harriet Thorpe is a writer, journalist and editor covering architecture, design and culture, with particular interest in sustainability, 20th-century architecture and community. After studying History of Art at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and Journalism at City University in London, she developed her interest in architecture working at Wallpaper* magazine and today contributes to Wallpaper*, The World of Interiors and Icon magazine, amongst other titles. She is author of The Sustainable City (2022, Hoxton Mini Press), a book about sustainable architecture in London, and the Modern Cambridge Map (2023, Blue Crow Media), a map of 20th-century architecture in Cambridge, the city where she grew up.
-
‘I was captivated by the idea of merging two iconic brands’: Nigo on his collaboration with Moncler and Mercedes-Benz, which features a 1990s-inspired riff on the G-Wagon
Unveiled at Moncler’s ‘The City of Genius’ event in Shanghai this past weekend, Japanese fashion designer Nigo unpacks his three-way collaboration with Moncler and Mercedes-Benz, which includes a play on the G-Class alongside a fashion collection in his eclectic style
By Jack Moss Published
-
Cathay Pacific’s new business class Aria Suites take flight
Cathay Pacific raises the bar for business-class travel with the launch of the much-anticipated Aria Suites
By Lauren Ho Published
-
Volvo’s ultra-efficient EX30 compact EV gets its first real competition, the new Smart #3
We experience the highly rated Volvo EX30 and Smart’s most recent foray into pure electric cars, the #3. Which is the best executed small SUV?
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
A new exhibition marks Chandigarh’s modernist legacy
‘Celebrating the Capitol’, an exhibition of photographic work by architect Noor Dasmesh Singh, opens just in time for the famed modernist Indian city’s anniversary
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Join our tour of London Zoo, its modernist architecture and more
London Zoo is a well-established magnet for younger visitors, but there's plenty for the architecture enthusiast to admire too; our tour explores its modernist treasures for guests of all ages
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
La Grande Motte: touring the 20th-century modernist dream of a French paradise resort
La Grande Motte and its utopian modernist dreams, as seen through the lens of photographers Laurent Kronental and Charly Broyez, who spectacularly captured the 20th-century resort community in the south of France
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
'Mid-Century Modern Masterpieces' captured in new monograph like no book before
'The Atlas of Mid-Century Modern Masterpieces' chronicles hundreds of iconic structures from this golden age of architectural expression
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Discover Tempe à Pailla, a lesser-known Eileen Gray gem nestled in the French Riviera
Tempe à Pailla is a modernist villa in the French Riviera brimming with history, originally designed by architect Eileen Gray and extended by late British painter Graham Sutherland
By Tianna Williams Published
-
'American Modern' surveys the 'total community' modernist project that was Columbus, Indiana
'American Modern', a new publication zooming in on the lesser-known architectural gems of Columbus, Indiana, and their impact, is out this month
By Adrian Madlener Published
-
'Tropicality' explored in Indonesian architect Andra Matin’s first monograph
'Tropicality' is a key theme in a new book on Indonesian architect Andra Matin, whose work blends landscape, architecture and living
By Harriet Thorpe Published
-
‘A Time ⋅ A Place’ is a lovingly compiled photographic portrait of cars and architecture
‘A Time ⋅ A Place’ is a celebration of the European Car of the Year and changing perceptions of modern design, pairing the best buildings of the age with their automotive contemporaries
By Jonathan Bell Published