Akil Sami House

By HASSAN FATHY
Egyptian Architect

Submitted to: Submitted by:

Ar. AKANKSHA MODI MOHD. SIDDIQ SALIM
B-arch ,5TH Sem
Subject : Vernacular Architecture
POORNIMA UNIVERSITY, Jaipur
 Ar. HASSAN FATHY
• Born to a wealthy family on the 23 March 1900 in
Alexandria, Egypt
• He moved to Cairo with his family when he was eight
years old, and settled in Helwan
• A noted Egyptian architect who pioneered appropriate
technology for building in Egypt, especially by working to
re-establish the use of mud brick (or adobe) and
traditional as opposed to western building designs and
lay-outs.
 ARCHITECTURAL PERSPECTIVES
• Ancient design methods and materials
• Utilizing a knowledge of rural Egyptian economic situation
• Space design suitable to surrounding environment
• Low cost construction without using R.C.C and steel.
• Training locals to build ones own house.

 PRINCIPLES OF FATHY'S WORK :

• The belief in the primacy of human values in architecture
• The importance of a universal rather than a limited approach
• The use of appropriate technology
• The need for socially oriented, cooperative construction techniques
• The essential role of tradition
• The re-establishment of cultural pride through the art of building
 INTRODUCTION
• The house was built by notable Egyptian Architect Hassan Fathy. It was built
in Dahshur for the client Dr. Akil Sami. The house is built using traditional
Egyptian and Islamic building techniques and arrangements.
• The house was however not built with traditional mud bricks as per
custom; due to a ban from the government, following the construction of the
Aswan High Dam which hindered the buildup of sediment along the Nile
river .
• “Arab Architecture begins with the interior and goes to the exterior.
The function of the space is primary” .

CLIMATE
• LOCATION : Dahshur , Egypt
• CLIMATE : Hot and Arid climate
• AVG. TEMERATURE :
 Summer = 25 ° C – 36° C
 Winter = 7 ° C – 19 ° C
• AVG. RAINFALL : 2.54 mm
 Akil Sami House

 LOCATION : Dahshur ,EGYPT

 ARCHITECT : Ar. Hassan Fathy
 OWNER : Dr Akil Sami
 ARCHITECTURE : Arab Architecture
 TECHNIQUES : Egyptian and Islamic
 MATERIALS : Local Limestone, Wood
 PLAN PLAN
SUN
BEDROOM
BATH WIND TOWER

ENTRY
TOILET OFFICE
TOI.
ENTRANCE
LODGE
BUFFER KITCHEN

INTERIOR
DINING
COURTYARD
COURTYARD

PERGOLA GUEST DRAWING GUEST

GARDEN ROOM ROOM BEDROOM
SECTIONS
EXTERIOR
INTERIOR
INTERIOR
 Design Elements

Pergola Decorative Screens Courtyard Wind catcher

Vaults Screened Walls Thick Walls Adobe Walls

 PLANNING
Courtyard
The courtyard is a space in which clean fresh air is abundant; temperatures are also
lower during daytime because cool air is trapped during night time and retained.
Courtyards are also warmer in winter due to a lesser exposure to cold air, whilst still
receiving warmth from the sun which is lower during winter.

Hall
The central hall space that can be
used for prayer. The hall is flanked
Lodge by Arches; which are vaulted
Lodge in the building traditional seating areas with an
serves to shade the opening leading into the a
building from sunlight courtyard. . Traditional Arabic
during daytime and courtyards which are the most
serving as comfortable essential element in Arab
sleeping and living architecture and serve as private
spaces at night. spaces used to entertain

Wind Tower
The wind tower also prevents wind-borne
sand from entering the internal spaces as
there are less solid materials at higher
altitudes.
Guest Room
It is traditionally hosted for less
esteemed guests. It is located
adjacent to the courtyards.
Guest Bedroom
The bedroom is located on the
eastern facade to avoid the hot
westerly sun when the users are
trying to go to sleep. This
positioning also allows the clean,
bright morning light to filter in.
 Public and Private Spaces

Hassan Fathy Divided the Private and Public areas of the house by
using the circulation spaces as a buffer. Privacy is a very important
aspect of Islamic culture, so Hassan Fathy creates areas that are
traditionally open to guests and areas that are secluded.
Passive Heating/Cooling Orientation Analysis
Thermal Resistivity of Domes

Hassan Fathy makes use of many curved surfaces such as

arches, vaults and domes and these increase the speed of
airflow, due to low pressure. The curved surfaces also limit
the amount of heat absorbtion due to the larger surface
area.
 Thermal Mass

• Hassan Fathy uses Thermal mass to prevent solar radiation from

penetrating into the interior spaces. The large temperature diurnal range
makes thermal mass suited for the cliamte.
• Thermal mass is not a substitute for insulation, but because Hassan
Fathy uses such thick walls, the heat does not reach the inner side of
the wall, when the temperature drops at night, the cool breezes can
then draw the heat out into the night sky.
Passive Heating and Cooling
Hassan Fathy uses wind catchers,
Mashrabiya (Screens), low pressure
difference/suction and the bernoulli
effect to channel and accelerate air
movement in the internal spaces.
 Mashrabiya
(Privacy and Temperature control)

The Mashrabiya which is a traditional islamic screen with wooden

latticework. It serves many purposes, but one of the most important is the
ability to impede the view of those outside whilst still allowing those in the
interior to view outside. The Mashrabiya also effectively controls the
temperature of air currents.
 Overall understanding
The spatial arrangement of the spaces was designed in light of
thermal comfort and circulation as well as traditional/religious
customs. In addition to the functionalism of the house, Fatty also
organizes forms with certain rules of harmony, rhythm, pattern and
proportion; to achieve a pleasing visual effect.
• Adobe walls – Low heat radiation, low cost, availability
• Thick wall – high insulation
• Small windows not facing the sun.
• Windcatcher – Air circulation, a pressure gradient used
to get away with the hot air.
• Screens – Restrict glare of light
• No use of R.C.C and Steel for high heat radiation
• Courtyard with partial greenery to screen dust and
sand in the prevailing wind.
Sources
• http://aden-outlook.weebly.com/references.html
• https://archnet.org/sites/2588/media_contents/30
625