Sketchbook

In an age when architects have come to rely heavily on computer-aided design and drafting systems to translate their visions onto paper, Hany Hassan, FAIA possesses the increasingly rare talent of producing hand-drawn designs.
A born artist, architect Hany Hassan has dedicated his career to professional practice while at the same time pursuing a lifelong passion for drawing. It was during his studies at Cairo University that he first came to understand visual communication as a key element of the architect’s role. Drawing – the architect’s first language – continues to benefit his work, providing clarity to clients and constituents on the overall vision and choreography of a project’s design.
For Hany, drawing is a practice that is both personal and sacred. Each illustration begins with a long meditation on the subject – an experience that is deeply engaging and essential to his process. Today, drawing remains the cornerstone of Hany’s work, both in the US and abroad.
This exhibition features selected sketches, drawings, renderings, and watercolors spanning 30 years from the collection of Mr. Hassan, Partner at Beyer Blinder Belle (BBB) and Director of the firm’s Washington, DC office.

About Hany Hassan, FAIA
Hany Hassan, FAIA, is a practicing architect living and working in Washington, DC. His expertise spans architectural and urban design for new construction and the renovation of historic structures. Over the course of 40 years, Mr. Hassan has served as a passionate steward of our cultural heritage through the revitalization of historic buildings and sites of civic importance. A native of Cairo, he has long been inspired by the architectural icons of Egypt for their simplicity, strength, power, and for their absence of ornamentation. His work is characterized by simple yet bold contemporary interventions that respect the original building through a harmony of proportion, scale, and character.
As Director of Beyer Blinder Belle’s Washington, DC office, Hany has worked on significant public architecture projects that positively shape the nation’s capital. He believes that the most successful and rewarding civic projects balance the highest level of creativity with public input. Guided by personal conviction and exceptional communication skills, Hany articulates his ideas with poise and uncommon ease, engendering collaboration and consensus. His prolific hand sketches, drawings, renderings, and watercolors provide a valuable tool in enabling clients and stakeholders to better visualize and understand a project’s design.
Hany received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cairo University in Egypt. His academic experience includes teaching Design and Architecture at Cairo University in Egypt, lecturing at New York University for the Masters Program of Real Estate Development and Investment, and heading a housing research project for Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a National Peer for the General Services Administration’s Design Excellence Program, former Board Member and Officer of the Washington Architectural Foundation, and Board Member of the DC Preservation League, where he also serves on the Project Review Committee.#

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