Client:
Turquoise Mountain
Location:
Yangon, Myanmar
Completion:
September 2019
The former Ministry of Hotels and Tourism Building is one of the most important historic landmark buildings in Downtown Yangon. Its fine classical architecture overlooks Mahabadoola Park to the east and the 2000 year old Sule Pagoda to the north.
The ambition of the project was to create an economically sustainable cultural hub to benefit and inspire the people of Yangon and kick start regeneration within the immediate Downtown and wider area.
The repair and regeneration of the grand internal volumes of the building secures its future for many decades to come as a space to showcase and promote Myanmar’s craft industries. Acting as market hall, café, workshop, teaching space and gallery there are also plans for a forum for discussion and exhibition space to explore the city's urban form - past, present and future. Its rooftop affords some of the best views in Yangon.
The restoration of the Tourist Burma building presented the opportunity to repair and regenerate the building and to create a model to drive heritage-led regeneration in Yangon.
A comprehensive programme of vocational training was provided during the works to ensure that the restoration was undertaken to the highest standard.
During the course of the project, over 300 construction workers and professionals were trained through on site vocational training in international standard conservation construction and gained the skills needed to deal with the many other historic buildings requiring attention across the country.
