Yangon has one of the best preserved colonial city dating back to the British time. Since opening its doors to the outside world, pressure is however mounting up to demolish some of the city’s historical structures to replace them by office towers and condominiums. A fight for the Yangon Heritage Trust.
MANDALAY – Founded in 2012, the Yangon Heritage Trust is an NGO looking at protecting the historical structures of Myanmar’s former capital. It is funded by local business groups and international government/organizations and works with local authorities to look at issues concerning the old structures. Yangon is a city full of charm with the centre offering a unique skyline of historical buildings built during British India. Most of them are in a sorrow state turning them into easy prays to greedy real estate developers. “There is first a lack of proper protection laws. But also many owners of private buildings have neither the knowledge nor the resources to protect their properties”, explains Laetitia Millois, researcher at the YHT.
“There is a huge need to highlight to locals and explain the value of keeping these structures. Yangon has in fact the largest collection of colonial style buildings. This is an asset rather than a weakness”, she adds. However, years of neglect, facades’ alteration, the demolition of old structures and their replacement by soulless towers are a very serious threat to Yangon’s architectural image.
Many buildings are important to Myanmar history and are now under threat of being torn down. “The Yangon Heritage Trust is for example involved into the potential rehabilitation of three historical buildings: the Gandhi Hall, which saw the Mahatma Gandhi; the Waziya Cinema, Yangon last Art Deco style film theatre and the old US Embassy.”
Other projects launched by the Yangon Heritage Trust is the establishment of a heritage zone for Yangon downtown. “For example, the waterfront along the river could be turned into a very attractive urban area and become the new centre of Yangon social life”, adds Mrs. Millois. Seven heritage zones have been identified. The trust is also working with authorities to create the necessary protection legal frame with laws.
Finally, the YHT wants to raise awareness among locals and travellers. A new heritage brochure is soon to be available while free heritage tours are offered to locals. Among other projects is the installation of historical signs providing information about buildings and the creation of a history exhibition. The latter will offer for visitors and locals a comprehensive panorama of Yangon urban evolution. Due to open its doors in September, it will be a great addition to Yangon’s cultural life and a good way to show that tourists care about history…
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
