Fathy, a progressive architect with a deep respect for the past, broke with the dogmas of modernism, the generic boxes of concrete and steel, plugged into the electrical grid, that had become a universal symbol of Western progress around the globe. He was interested in something more radical, and better suited to Egypt: sustainable architecture, built by hand by local artisans and designed to be habitable even during the hottest days of the year.
I’ll note that these technologies have some very specific limits - they’re still limited by wet bulb temperature, and if it’s hot enough for long enough, people will still die. But they do extend where people can live and for how long.
sustainable architecture, built by hand by local artisans
I hate this weird false dichotomy where people think they have to go modern high-tech in both design and construction or old-school traditional in both design and construction. Newsflash, folks: you can use a backhoe to build a rammed-earth building! It’s okay! Really!
this is rad. i live in western Colorado, a desert part of the state that has a lot in common with the climate of the Middle East. if i could afford to build a house i’d definitely try to do one with these features. how gorgeous, and relevant!
