The human approach of Hany Hassan

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[["images-card",{"images":[{"url":"http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/dpcbzfiye\/image\/upload\/v1681754322\/tlqfzqqrvfz1ughr7nvr.png","id":"6616253"}],"caption":"Hany describes the pyramids of Giza, Egypt, as one of his favorite sites back home due to the simplicity of the form. \u201cGrowing up in Egypt surrounded by 5,000 years of rich history, was a source and wealth of inspiration. It shaped and guided my design philosophy. Everything I do is guided by the power of simplicity.\u201d"}],["images-card",{"images":[{"url":"http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/dpcbzfiye\/image\/upload\/v1681754387\/horufqdq4waoxvciknzs.jpg","id":"6616254"}],"caption":"Renovation and restoration of the Historic DC Courthouse, Image source: Beyer Blinder Belle"}],["images-card",{"images":[{"url":"http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/dpcbzfiye\/image\/upload\/v1681754432\/ouknvsw5miiuvlywnvut.jpg","id":"6616255"}],"caption":"Hany is a skilled artist. Above is a 40-year-old sketch of Old Cairo by Hany, \u201cdepicting the beauty of the Egyptian warm sunlight and comfort of shadow in a narrow street of the old city.\u201d"}]],"markups":[["a",["href","https:\/\/www.beyerblinderbelle.com\/","target","_blank"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.beyerblinderbelle.com\/stories\/211_hany_hassan_2019_centennial_medal_recipient_leader_of_bbb_dc_20_years","target","_blank"]],["a",["href","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=zDjWymXNrg4","target","_blank"]],["strong"]],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Iconic Washington DC-based architect Hany Hassan, FAIA, partner and Washington, D.C. office director at"],[0,[0],1," Beyer Blinder Belle"],[0,[],0,", sat down with AIA\u2019s Senior Director of Career Advancement Jenine Kotob, AIA, to discuss the influence of his father, the importance of embracing your community, the need for a more \u0022human approach\u0022 in architecture, and much more. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Hassan was born in Egypt and moved to America in 1978. In 2019, AIA DC gave Hassan the "],[0,[1],1,"Centennial Medal"],[0,[],0,". In 2020 they named Hassan a \u0022"],[0,[2],1,"giant of Washington architecture.\u0022 "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[3],1,"Jenine Kotob"],[0,[],0,": Tell me what inspired you to become an architect."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[3],1,"Hany Hassan"],[0,[],0,": There wasn\u2019t necessarily a moment that made me decide I should become an architect, it was simply an evolution of coming to this conclusion. I became aware of architecture due to my father being a professor of engineering at Cairo University. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"His office was directly next to the architectural studio. Every time I went to visit him, I couldn\u2019t help but walk down the short corridor that led to the architectural studio. I\u2019d see the incredible amount of work that the students were doing. I was intrigued by the creative energy and the beautiful drawings."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"But this wasn\u2019t it, my whole family\u2014my brothers and sisters\u2014they all painted. My father had a very good hand in drawing as well. So, this creativity surrounded me at home. My interest in architecture came as a natural progression."]]],[10,0],[1,"p",[[0,[3],1,"Jenine Kotob"],[0,[],0,": Can you talk to me about a significant role model or mentor in your life? "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[3],1,"Hany Hassan"],[0,[],0,": My father was someone I looked up to and who guided my whole life. I joined Cairo University\u2019s architectural school, so I ended up seeing my father on a daily basis. After I finished school, I taught there, so I ended up teaching at the same time as him."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"I watched him closely and was always inspired by how he conducted himself and how people related to him. He wasn\u2019t just a professor, he was a father, a teacher, and a friend who helped others throughout his life. His humility impressed me the most. As much as others put him on a pedestal, he had a lot of humility and I took that from him as a life lesson."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Beyond that, I\u2019ve learned from many people, and I continue to do so. They don\u2019t necessarily have to be senior to me. It has nothing to do with age or seniority. When I first came to the United States, I worked for Eggers and Higgins, and Paul Lampl, a principal there, took me under his wing and left a very positive impression on me. He was Austrian, lived in Egypt during the war for an extended time, and had an affinity for Egypt and Egyptian people."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"I had an immediate connection with him. He was a very good designer, and he drew beautifully. I saw some of the drawings he did when he lived in Egypt, and I often asked for one of those sketches. Ultimately he gave me one of the originals, and I treasure it now."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[3],1,"Jenine Kotob"],[0,[],0,": Hearing about how Paul was an anchor for you while you were navigating the country for the first time is so nice to hear."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[3],1,"Hany Hassan"],[0,[],0,": When I came to the United States in 1978, I had to learn the language, and it was a challenge to navigate. I started working almost immediately upon arrival. What helped me communicate with people was the skill of drawing. My father would tell me that the architect\u2019s first language was drawing. It helped me communicate through difficult times in the beginning while establishing my roots."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[3],1,"Jenine Kotob"],[0,[],0,": Can you share what your proudest moment or achievement is in your career? "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[3],1,"Hany Hassan"],[0,[],0,": That\u2019s a tough one! I can\u2019t say there\u2019s any one moment that comes to mind. I wake up in the morning, and I start my day with a simple mission to do the best that I can, and I feel good about it every day."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"I think my proudest moments are when I work on a project with all kinds of challenges and I am able to create a vision for a particular job, that in the end, everyone is happy with the result. I think this brings me the most satisfaction. I\u2019m not doing this for myself, the beauty of architecture is that it isn\u2019t about self-fulfillment, it\u2019s a profession that embraces the creative process for others."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"We\u2019re building an environment to create a place for people to enjoy, for people to use. Seeing people experience what we have created makes me feel the proudest."]]],[10,1],[1,"p",[[0,[3],1,"Jenine Kotob"],[0,[],0,": What does it mean to you to be an Egyptian-American?"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[3],1,"Hany Hassan"],[0,[],0,": I\u2019m very proud of where I came from, but I\u2019m an American, and I am very proud of being an American. It\u2019s important to be proud of where you come from, but it\u2019s as important to be part of the community where you live and where you interact with other people."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The whole idea of being in the United States is that everyone came from somewhere, and they\u2019re all American. Why categorize everyone all the time and box people into labels? I consider myself fortunate that I came from another culture. That I lived and learned in another culture."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Being from two places has allowed me to be more understanding, to have more tolerance, and be more open-minded. You can embrace both cultures and learn different perspectives from each."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"This also helped me a great deal in my work because the work that I did was not just in the United States. It\u2019s helped me work all over the world. When I work on an international project, I\u2019m more open-minded because I have been through this. I understand that everyone has a unique worldview."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[3],1,"Jenine Kotob"],[0,[],0,": What are your thoughts about the state of the profession and the future of architecture?"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[3],1,"Hany Hassan"],[0,[],0,": I think the profession of architecture is so important. It touches on every aspect of our lives and is such a broad profession with so many branches that are all related whether it\u2019s construction, technology, economy, development, or design."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Today, I see emerging technologies creating a lot of opportunities and possibilities. It\u2019s opening a lot of doors in the field, especially, in terms of quickly processing a structure or laying out a building. That aspect is helping a great deal. But I am concerned that we may be leaning towards efficiency and speed and ensuring things are done economically. There\u2019s a lot of pressure on the architecture profession to do things mathematically and automatically."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"There are many programs today where you just input factors, and, push a button, and the answer comes out. In doing that, I\u2019m afraid we aren\u2019t focusing enough on the personal, human touch of the architect. Clients want to see their building as if looking at a photograph of the finished product. That\u2019s all fine, but it\u2019s missing the process of how you got there through a more human approach."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Architecture is the perfect balance of art and science. I feel that we\u2019re tilting towards the science part too much and becoming more mechanical. Drawing and sketching are practically lost arts. When I draw, the shortest distance to execute an idea is between my brain and my hand. I wish to see this encouraged to a greater extent. For future generations and others in the profession, I ask, is there a way to maintain that balance?"]]],[10,2]]}