Hassan Fathy is one of the most important architects of the twentieth century, whose works have had a widespread influence on the architecture of the Islamic world and whose ideas have extended to the Western world. This book focuses on the complexity of Fathy's architecture and the richness and range of its theoretical intentions, as well as assesses his attitudes towards modernism and the International Style. The relationship of his philosophy to movements such as Post-modernism, community architecture and self-help building, eco-architecture and sustainability and tendencies such as neo-vernacular and earth building are also examined. In addition, important issues such as auto-colonialism and symbolism in architecture and critical responses to his works and philosophy are discussed. However, this is an essential reading that explores and reveals the significance of Fathy's approach while placing him within the wider perspective of twentieth-century architecture.