Building Together - The Story of New Gurna

A Story of Struggle from Hasan Fathy: Architecture for the Poor

Egyptian architect Hasan Fathy's (1900-1989) book "Architecture for the Poor: A Experiment in Rural Egypt," translated by Serpil Özaloğlu Merzi and edited by Aykut Köksal, has been published by Arketon Yayınları. In his book, Hasan Fathy intertwines two dimensions of his architectural journey: the first is to bring adobe, a traditional building material, into contemporary applications; the second is to rebuild the village of New Gourna, which was relocated due to being on an archaeological site, with the villagers themselves. Hasan Fathy not only narrates the construction process, which lasted from 1946 to 1952, but also establishes a broad narrative framework ranging from efforts to improve the living and health conditions of the villagers to his struggle with state bureaucracy to manage the process.

In the preface to the book, Hasan Fathy states:

"This book is a call for a new approach to improving living conditions in rural areas. The living standards and culture of the world's poorest peasants can be raised through participatory construction. Participation in the construction process means a new approach to the problem of rural housing. This approach involves more than just technical issues that interest the architect: complex and sensitive social and cultural problems, economic problems, how the project will be received by the government, etc., none of these can be excluded, because each one needs to be solved in conjunction with the others. In the text, each problem is treated within its own logic but as part of a complex whole. Thus, the reader, whatever their particular interest and qualifications, will be able to grasp the planning philosophy.

Since my proposals particularly concern the peasant, the book is dedicated to him. I would have liked them especially to read and evaluate my book. I hope this will happen soon. But for now, the text is for those who hold his destiny in their hands: Architects, urban planners, sociologists, anthropologists, all regional, national and international officials, politicians and all governments concerned with housing and the living standards of rural areas, everyone who helps to form an official policy towards rural areas..."