This afternoon at 7 pm, Casa Árabe de Madrid invites you to explore, with the help of writer and curator José Tono Martínez, the origin of the thought of the legendary architect of the poor, the Egyptian Hassan Fathy. The event will be presented by Karim Hauser, coordinator of Cultura de Casa Árabe. Admission is free until the capacity of the room is reached. The event will be held in Spanish.
“Once upon a time, there was an innate beauty in everything around us: we were ourselves”. Hassan Fathy, 1981. Hassan Fathy was a visionary Egyptian architect known for his humanistic and sustainable approach to architecture, combining traditional techniques with modern solutions adapted to the local climate and culture.
Born in 1900, Fathy promoted the use of indigenous materials such as adobe and advocated for active community participation in the construction process. Its most emblematic project, the village of New Gourna, exemplifies its commitment to accessible, environmentally friendly and socially conscious architecture. Considered a pioneer of sustainable design, his legacy has deeply influenced contemporary architectural thought, especially in low-income contexts and extreme climates.
José Tono Martínez, graduate in anthropology and doctor of philosophy, writer and curator of the exhibition Hassan Fathy: a contracorriente, presented at Casa Árabe, in its headquarters in Madrid and Córdoba between 2021 and 2022, This conference explores the origin of the thought of the so-called architect of the poor. Tone has reviewed the personal library of the Egyptian intellectual, and will guide the assistant in the rich and plural world, ancient and modern, European and Arabic, which forged the thought of Hassan Fathy, central reference of contemporary culture, Early prophet of sustainability and the slow movement.
