Hasan Fathy was born in Alexandria in 1900, studied architecture in Cairo and had a long and distinguished career in development and conservation. Among other positions, he taught frequently at Cairo University and was elected an honorary fellow of the American Institute of Architecture in 1976.
He was particularly concerned with the appropriateness of architecture in terms of both people and place, being chosen to supervise the displacement and redevelopment of Gourna village near Luxor, and won several awards for his work. Renowned for his wide interests and knowledge and for his openess and accessability to all comers, he was a popular and respected figure.
The majority of his documents and drawings were bequeathed on his death in 1993 to the Aga Khan Award for Architecture as a key part of its permanent study collection.