The international mission organized by the Association Save the Heritage of Hassan Fathy on the site of New Gourna village from 22 to 27 January has observed a number of preoccupying problems in several places of the village. However, the mission is particularly alarmed by the construction of two administrative buildings which has begun recently just behind the beautiful theatre built by Hassan Fathy. It is simply disconcerting that these construction works have been undertaken while the Association exists since a year and beneficiates from the support of H.E. Madam Suzanne Mubarak.    

This construction site is implemented on the vast esplanade planned by Hassan Fathy as an extension of the theatre to host popular celebrations. This extension was pertinent and constituted breathing area within the village pattern. It is therefore a sacrilege to consider this space as building site in respect to the work of the master and to the theatre in particular.  

In the perspective of the village’s revitalisation, this esplanade could easily be reused successfully as a space for popular and folkloric performances, as planned by Hassan Fathy. Indeed, this would increase the cultural offer of events presented in the theatre. This sector of the village must absolutely be conserved as an entertainment sector for the local population as well as the many tourists who visit and have always visited New Gourna.    

The construction of buildings with concrete structure and red brick filling with “hard” foundations, three meters away from the theatre, harms the natural soil instead of conserving its permeability. This implies the rising of water, a very serious problem in a village which suffers in its original parts from water.  

These buildings will have nothing to do architecturally with the ones of the village and will disfigure the skyline which is already much denatured in other places of New Gourna. This will irreparably affect the perception one has of this major building of Hasssan Fathy’s work. A characterless modern building has already been constructed behind the neighbouring house of the Mayor and clearly shows how the juxtaposition of this kind of inappropriate architecture seriously affects the harmonious constructions built by Hassan Fathy.

Moreover, the building site is managed brutaly without any care or regard to the two well preserved buildings of Hassan Fathy which are the theatre on one side and the Mayor’s House on the other. Big trucks bump into the mud brick walls without precaution and create serious damages. This should be stopped immediately two of the best conserved buildings of New Gourna fall one after the other. 

The mission is also worried about the future restoration works announced for the theatre which needs a restoration according to the rules. This building has been subjected to punctual interventions since the important and good restoration undertaken in 1982 by disciples of Hassan Fathy. Advice should be taken from Architects Adel Fahmy and Ahmad Hamid, students of Hassan Fathy who know exactly how to proceed for this restoration without modifying the work of Hassan Fathy.

In conclusion, the Association Save the heritage of Hassan Fathy which is concerned by the whole work of the renowned architect and presently particularly by the safeguarding of New Gourna village, urgently asks the highest Egyptian authorities to stop the constructions aforementioned.

An international symposium organized by Save the heritage of Hassan Fathy jointly with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina on the safeguarding of Hassan Fathy’s heritage and New Gourna in particular is already scheduled to be held on 30 – 31 May 2009 in Alexandria.

Current situation

1)    New Gourna has suffered important damages related to underestimation and abandon.  Some buildings have disappeared, like the Boys School or the Mayor’s House. Some have been denatured and elevated in various techniques other than rough earth. Others, like the market or the khan, are in danger of collapse and ruin. 

2)     Although a number of buildings have been altered, the urban pattern of the village is still clearly legible.

Preliminary measures

1) A detailed expertise of New Gourna’s current state of conservation is necessary prior to any action. Considering the universal significance of New Gourna as a pioneer reference of earth architecture, this expertise should mobilize all the leading specialists in this field. International laboratories are already willing to provide assistance to the Egyptian teams.

2)     The entire village of New Gourna and its surroundings should be considered as an entity. The expertises, studies, analysis, program scenarios and projects should take into account the whole area and not one or another isolated building. Only a global vision of the built village and its surroundings can generate a valid safeguarding project.  

3)     This reflection should consider the fact that only 1/3^rd of the constructions of the village planned by Hassan Fathy have actually been achieved. Thus, the surroundings of New Gourna should be integrated in the safeguarding project; any architectural or environmental process in this protected area should bee evaluated in order to be in harmony with New Gourna.

4)     The study of the documents conserved at the Hassan Fathy Archives of the Rare Books Library and Special Collections of the American University in Cairo should absolutely serve as a basis to any reflection prior to the elaboration of a safeguarding project. The choice of a program for New Gourna should take into account the meticulous studies carried out by Hassan Fathy and his disciples in 1970-1980.  

5)     In sum, the study and analysis process is as important, if not more, than the restoration work itself. This is why the means should be given to this process while all the measures of conservation should be taken immediately to avoid further deteriorations.  

SAVE THE HERITAGE OF HASSAN FATHY is fundraising for:

Sending expertise missions to asses New Gourna’s state of conservation in order to promote a safeguarding project

Organizing an International symposium in Louxor with concerned  institutions and experts

Creating an International Pole for Earth Architecture in New Gourna:

-          Pilot-building site for earth architecture

-         Scientific and educational programms for restoration and rehabilitation of earth architecture in New Gourna

View recent article on Hassan Fathy published in 2007
link
Hassan Fathy Revisited
Postwar Discourses on Science, Development, and Vernacular Architecture
Panayiota I. Pyla