New Gourna Village: Conservation and Community

New Gourna is an experimental community commissioned by the Egyptian Department of Antiquities in the 1940s. The village was conceived by the renowned architect, Hassan Fathy, who championed the participation of residents in the design and construction process. New Gourna’s mixed use plan and traditional earthen building materials served to marry local knowledge with innovation, producing an early example of sustainable architecture. In the past 65-years, much of the original fabric of New Gourna has been lost, and the international community has joined forces to promote its preservation. In collaboration with UNESCO and the Luxor Governorate, World Monuments Fund undertook this community assessment to analyze social-economic conditions, to identify factors of change within the community and the environment, to study the use of space and adaptations patterns, and to effectively engage residents in conservation efforts.