حكاية حسن فتحي | المعماري — Transcript

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1. 0:00In the year 2022,
2. 0:01there was an African architect from Burkina Faso
3. 0:03named Francis Kéré.
4. 0:05He received the Pritzker Prize for Architecture,
5. 0:07which is considered as significant as the Nobel Prize
6. 0:10because it is one of the most prestigious awards in architecture.
7. 0:12He received this award because he managed to design simple buildings
8. 0:16in his home country, Burkina Faso,
9. 0:17with the least cost and the highest efficiency.
10. 0:20These buildings are environmentally suitable
11. 0:22because he constructed them entirely from clay.
12. 0:24Can you imagine, in 2022,
13. 0:27despite all the advancements and technology in architecture,
14. 0:31the Nobel Prize equivalent goes to an architect who builds with clay?
15. 0:35This is because the world has come to understand
16. 0:38that modern buildings with concrete and glass
17. 0:42are contributing to the planet's destruction.
18. 0:44The solution is to return to nature and build
19. 0:47using natural materials available in each country.
20. 0:52It's interesting to note that there was an Egyptian architect,
21. 0:55who applied a similar philosophy to architecture.
22. 0:57over 50 years ago.
23. 0:59He was ahead of his time with his philosophy and approach to construction.
24. 1:04His name is impossible to forget.
25. 1:05This episode is dedicated to introducing people
26. 1:08to the architect of the poor, Hassan Fathy.
27. 1:11Welcome to a new episode of 'The Architect'.
28. 1:13My name is Ahmed Ali, so let's start the story!
29. 1:23(The Architect)
30. 1:26Our story begins in the year 1900
31. 1:28with the start of the 20th century.
32. 1:30In that year, Hassan Fathy was born in the city of Alexandria
33. 1:34to a wealthy Egyptian family.
34. 1:36He studied in Egyptian schools until we reached the college stage,
35. 1:40the stage where he would choose his specialization,
36. 1:42which he would continue throughout his life.
37. 1:45His family wanted him to study agriculture
38. 1:47to manage their agricultural lands.
39. 1:49However, he was eager to enter engineering,
40. 1:51his childhood dream.
41. 1:52In another narrative,
42. 1:53he didn't want to study engineering;
43. 1:55instead, he wished to study agriculture,
44. 1:57but unfortunately, his wish wasn't accepted.
45. 1:59This may explain his love for the land and the countryside,
46. 2:01which we will get to know later.
47. 2:03In the end, he entered the engineering field
48. 2:06at the Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University,
49. 2:09around the year 1918,
50. 2:12during the struggle with the English occupation
51. 2:15and the prevalence of the idea of identity
52. 2:17in all fields at that time, including architecture.
53. 2:20We need to design something that resembles us,
54. 2:22something that expresses who we are.
55. 2:23Additionally, consider that this was during World War I,
56. 2:26which had a significant impact on international trade.
57. 2:30We couldn't rely on importing the building materials we needed,
58. 2:34and this, of course, affected architecture.
59. 2:36In the midst of all these circumstances,
60. 2:38Hassan Fathy graduated.
61. 2:40At that time, there were job opportunities for engineers,
62. 2:42and as soon as he graduated,
63. 2:44he got hired right away.
64. 2:46Similar to how doctors are appointed nowadays.
65. 2:47Thus, Hassan Fathy's luck wasn't that good!
66. 2:52He was appointed to work in the rural areas.
67. 2:54Maybe that's what made him deeply connected to the way of life
68. 2:57and their construction methods.
69. 2:59He believed that the houses built by the locals from mud,
70. 3:02without the involvement of engineers,
71. 3:03fulfilled their intended purpose and looked good.
72. 3:06Moreover, they were suitable for the environment,
73. 3:09just needing an engineer's touch
74. 3:11to become the best model for this type of architecture,
75. 3:14now known as Vernacular Architecture or spontaneous architecture.
76. 3:19Indeed, Hassan Fathy began experimenting with this construction method
77. 3:23and added his engineering knowledge to enhance it.
78. 3:26But, as you all know, clay can be used for building walls,
79. 3:30but the problem arises when we try to build roofs.
80. 3:33This material doesn't withstand the load and collapses.
81. 3:35That's why farmers used wooden beams to construct roofs.
82. 3:40However, Hassan Fathy wanted to build the entire structure from clay
83. 3:44because importing wood was expensive,
84. 3:47and Egypt lacked forests.
85. 3:50Therefore, he needed a cost-effective solution,
86. 3:53and he found it in Nubia.
87. 3:57In Nubia, builders created their roofs in the form of domes and vaults.
88. 4:01Domes, as we all know, are shaped like a half sphere.
89. 4:07This technique had many advantages.
90. 4:11Firstly, it allowed for the construction of roofs using ordinary clay.
91. 4:13Secondly, it reduced the absorption of heat by the building.
92. 4:16Let me explain to you.
93. 4:17When a building has a flat roof,
94. 4:19it is exposed to the sun throughout the day,
95. 4:21absorbing a considerable amount of heat
96. 4:23that raises the temperature inside.
97. 4:25However, when we construct the roof in the form of a dome,
98. 4:27there is always a part exposed to the sun
99. 4:29and another shaded part.
100. 4:31This way, it doesn't absorb as much heat,
101. 4:33resulting in lower temperatures inside the building.
102. 4:35Additionally, the dome shape facilitates better air circulation
103. 4:39within the spaces.
104. 4:40In summary, this approach not only has lower costs
105. 4:43but also offers superior thermal insulation.
106. 4:45That's why Hassan Fathy began implementing it in his buildings,
107. 4:48collaborating with Nubian builders to execute the domes
108. 4:51and teaching people how to adopt this technique.
109. 4:55The most crucial aspect of his philosophy
110. 4:58is not just creating magnificent structures
111. 4:59associated with his name
112. 5:01but spreading an idea that endures even after his death.
113. 5:04He aimed to leave a legacy where people might forget Hassan Fathy,
114. 5:07but they continue to build using his methods.
115. 5:10In the mid-1940s,
116. 5:11the Antiquities Authority commissioned Hassan Fathy
117. 5:14to build a new village in Luxor
118. 5:16to relocate the residents of the Qurna village.
119. 5:19Qurna was situated in an archaeological site.
120. 5:21This village was featured
121. 5:22in the film 'The Mummy' by Shadi Abdel Salam,
122. 5:24and they named the new village 'New Qurna.'
123. 5:27Hassan Fathy commenced the design,
124. 5:29incorporating all his ideas.
125. 5:32He didn't replicate the same building
126. 5:33like most government housing projects we see nowadays,
127. 5:36but instead sat down with the people,
128. 5:39understanding their specific needs.
129. 5:40He designed homes tailored to each individual
130. 5:44to the extent that some wanted to live close to their relatives,
131. 5:47and he made it happen.
132. 5:48For him, it wasn't just a project;
133. 5:51he aimed to create a complete residential community.
134. 5:54Unfortunately, the project faced numerous issues.
135. 5:57It completely flooded with Nile water,
136. 6:00and accusations were leveled against Hassan Fathy,
137. 6:02claiming he didn't accurately calculate the flood barrier's capacity
138. 6:05and that it couldn't withstand the waters and floods.
139. 6:08However, there are alternative views suggesting that the situation
140. 6:11was orchestrated by the villagers themselves
141. 6:13who didn't want to leave their old village.
142. 6:17Therefore, they intentionally opened the floodgates,
143. 6:19leading to the project's complete submersion.
144. 6:21Hasan Fathy at that time
145. 6:23felt that he wouldn't be able to implement his ideas in Egypt,
146. 6:25especially since many people opposed him
147. 6:27and believed that the future lies in the new materials
148. 6:30that emerged after the Industrial Revolution,
149. 6:32such as concrete, steel, and glass.
150. 6:34They thought that while the world was advancing,
151. 6:36Egypt was regressing.
152. 6:37Because of this,
153. 6:38he decided to travel to Greece in the 1950s
154. 6:40to work with Doxiadis,
155. 6:43one of the most important architects and planners of his time.
156. 6:45Doxiadis was responsible for planning the city of Islamabad.
157. 6:48They collaborated for a while in designing cities of the future.
158. 6:52By 1958, Hasan Fathy received the State Encouragement Award.
159. 6:57After that, Abdel Nasser sought his assistance
160. 6:59to participate in designing a new village
161. 7:02in the New Valley called Paris Village.
162. 7:04In this village, Fathy repeated what he did in Qurna Village,
163. 7:07building it entirely from the local soil.
164. 7:10He also established a training center to teach the villagers
165. 7:14how to build using this method.
166. 7:15And he taught them how to build domes and vaults because,
167. 7:18as I mentioned earlier, this would make the method endure for a longer period.
168. 7:22And it gave the people a sense of ownership over the village,
169. 7:25making them feel more connected to the place.
170. 7:28This village was a living example of sustainability
171. 7:30before the term even became popular globally in the 1980s.
172. 7:36Imagine how advanced his approach was for his time!
173. 7:39Constructing affordable buildings
174. 7:40using natural materials with high efficiency,
175. 7:43particularly in insulation.
176. 7:44He even designed an underground market basement to store perishables.
177. 7:49The temperature in this basement was about 15 degrees cooler than the street level.
178. 7:55Due to his method of construction.
179. 7:58Moreover, some sources even said that
180. 8:01the cost of building a house with an area
181. 8:02ranging from 200 to 300 square meters
182. 8:04was approximately 46,000 Egyptian pounds,
183. 8:07an incredibly low figure for that time.
184. 8:11However, despite all these achievements,
185. 8:13the project didn't continue as the government stopped funding it.
186. 8:17Nevertheless, the structures he designed still exist to this day,
187. 8:20serving as significant examples of Hassan Fathy's innovative building style.
188. 8:25Hassan Fathy might not have been able to implement his ideas
189. 8:27on a large scale as he dreamed,
190. 8:29but he succeeded in spreading his thoughts among his friends.
191. 8:32He designed their houses for them without charge,
192. 8:35demonstrating his commitment to his ideas.
193. 8:39And it wasn't just a profession for him!
194. 8:41One notable example of Hassan Fathy's influence
195. 8:44is seen in the house of Dr. Fouad Abdel-Moneim Riad in Saqqara.
196. 8:47Initially, he attempted to build the house using mud,
197. 8:49but due to the region's climate,
198. 8:52he ended up constructing it entirely from stone,
199. 8:54resulting in an architectural masterpiece.
200. 8:56To the extent that Dr. Fouad Abdel-Moneim Riad had initially planned
201. 8:59to build his house as a vacation retreat.
202. 9:02However, after staying in it, he decided to make it his primary residence.
203. 9:06Another example is the house of Dr. Shahira Mehrez,
204. 9:09situated on the rooftop of a building in Dokki.
205. 9:10Fathy applied the same construction principles.
206. 9:12Hassan Fathy sought to disseminate his ideas among the wealthy
207. 9:16for a very valid reason.
208. 9:17He was convinced that this approach was the key to changing
209. 9:21the ordinary perception people had about mud houses,
210. 9:23which was often associated with the impoverished.
211. 9:26Essentially, he aimed to promote this type of construction
212. 9:29not merely as a cost-effective solution for limited-income individuals.
213. 9:33Hassan Fathy's visionary ideas extended beyond his contemporary era,
214. 9:37to the point that when Samih Sawiris decided to build El Gouna,
215. 9:40he drew significant inspiration from Fathy's designs.
216. 9:44Aiming to it suitable for the hot climate of the region.
217. 9:47Thus, the architecture of Hassan Fathy evolved
218. 9:49to become architecture for the affluent,
219. 9:50not just the poor, as the wealthy recognized its true value.
220. 9:55"Architecture of the Poor" is not just a name
221. 9:57given to the buildings designed by Hassan Fathy;
222. 9:59it is also the title of a book published in 1970,
223. 10:03where he explained his ideas, philosophy,
224. 10:04and his experience in designing the village of New Gourna.
225. 10:07Initially titled "A Tale of Two Villages,"
226. 10:10reminiscent of Charles Dickens' novel "A Tale of Two Cities,"
227. 10:15the book referred to the old and new Gourna.
228. 10:18However, when the University of Chicago republished the book,
229. 10:21it was translated and printed under the title "Architecture for the Poor,"
230. 10:25as a more fitting description for the buildings presented by Hassan Fathy.
231. 10:29It's strange that this man, as I mentioned before,
232. 10:31faced a lot of criticism,
233. 10:33with many people vehemently opposing his ideas,
234. 10:35considering him not different or unique,
235. 10:37and viewing him as just another architect attempting to stand out.
236. 10:43Some argued that his projects were not suitable
237. 10:45for the contemporary era we live in,
238. 10:46despite the fact that the reality was quite the opposite.
239. 10:49Hassan Fathy introduced a new philosophy in architecture
240. 10:51and created projects that still exist
241. 10:53and are standing today in Egypt, as I explained earlier.
242. 10:56He also undertook projects outside of Egypt,
243. 10:58such as the Dar al-Islam project in New Mexico, USA.
244. 11:01Many Egyptian builders traveled abroad to implement this project
245. 11:04using the same construction methods employed in Egypt.
246. 11:08Moreover, his books have been translated into most languages,
247. 11:11and his philosophy has become an essential part
248. 11:13of architectural curricula in major universities worldwide.
249. 11:17Additionally, the New Gourna Village has been designated
250. 11:19as a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
251. 11:20and it is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List,
252. 11:23recognizing the value of the ideas he presented.
253. 11:25Nowadays, the world is striving to implement these ideas,
254. 11:28and those who apply them are honored,
255. 11:30such as Francis Kéré, whom I mentioned at the beginning,
256. 11:32who received the Pritzker Prize
257. 11:33simply for applying similar principles.
258. 11:37In his final days,
259. 11:38Hassan Fathy resided in his modest home in Old Cairo
260. 11:41at 4 Darb Al Labana.
261. 11:43This place was a destination for architecture students
262. 11:46from Egypt and around the world,
263. 11:47eager to learn from him without any charges.
264. 11:50According to Dr. Abdel Halim Ibrahim,
265. 11:52one of his most important disciples
266. 11:54and the designer of the campus of the American University in Cairo,
267. 11:56meeting Hassan Fathy daily in his home
268. 11:59was considered the most significant cultural encounter in Cairo.
269. 12:02He used to emphasize that his main concern was to build a city for people
270. 12:07because in his view a house is the second layer
271. 12:09that envelops a person after clothing.
272. 12:11Therefore, it should be designed in a way that suits human needs
273. 12:14and adapts to the environment.
274. 12:16After his passing, his home was transformed by his disciples
275. 12:20into the "House of Egyptian Architecture,"
276. 12:21which remains a destination for architects,
277. 12:25hosting frequent architectural seminars
278. 12:28to continue the mission initiated by
279. 12:30the father of architect, Hassan Fathy.
280. 12:33And that's all!
281. 12:34Our episode today has ended.
282. 12:35If you liked it, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to the channel.
283. 12:39And let's have a discussion in the comments section.