The conservation of new Gourna village according to Hassan Fathy’s philosophy and ideas

Abstract EN

Motivated by the declining condition of New Gourna, the international association “Save the Heritage of Hassan Fathy” made an appeal to several international conservation organizations to help with the conservation of the village.

Responding to this appeal, the World Heritage Centre embarked upon a study of the village and a conservation initiative.

The study recommended adopting two approaches to the conservation of New Gourna, one of which is based on the conservation of the village according to Hassan Fathy’s ideas.

The study summarized these ideas as “architecture that is based on appropriate technology or sustainability”.

The aim of this study is to discuss the architect’s genuine ideas concerning New Gourna, which should guide the conservation works in the village.

The subject of the study was approached by means of a theoretical review of a broad literature that explores Hassan Fathy’s ideas, one of which is Hassan Fathy’s own book entitled “Architecture for the Poor”.

An individual conservation initiative of one of the houses that Hassan Fathy designed in New Gourna, which reflects a clear understanding of his ideas, was explored as well.

The previous literature review was supported by a number of interviews carried out in Egypt and the United States.

The study revealed that the architect’s main idea of the project was to sustain the traditional qualities of Old Gourna’s community by introducing an architecture that responds to its diverse contexts.

The study suggests adopting an approach to the conservation of the peasants’ houses that depends on sustaining and enhancing the traditional qualities of New Gourna’s community, instead of restoring the particularities of Hassan Fathy’s original design.