Title: Architects of Change

The Myanmar Times, June 19, 2013

As someone studying architecture overseas, I am struck when I return home by the low profile of the profession here and the lack of understanding among the public about the role architects play in creating the spaces we live in and the cities of the future.

When I began studying at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in the United Kingdom, I noticed the literary thickness of architecture: There were more than 40,000 volumes on architecture-related topics in my school’s library, including history, theory and contemporary debates on architecture and built environments. Through reading these books, I learned that architecture not only shapes the individual spaces we live in, but also has a wider impact on technology, and the social and cultural aspects of our environment.

As I gained knowledge about architecture, I became more aware of how little understanding there is in Myanmar about architects and architecture. Relatives and friends building new homes often sought quick advice before contacting an engineer, but questions such as – “how deep should the foundations be for a two-storey house built on a mountainside?” and “how much would that cost?” – were usually vague and out of context. Once, a person asked me for a draft of a new home without providing any information about the neighbourhood. All I was given was the size of the land plot and asked to provide a drawing. This showed me that, in Myanmar, architecture is often considered a purely technical function.

People here have forgotten that architecture is a creative practice and that buildings and contexts can be immensely different depending on their location. If designing a building was a simple activity, a sort of formula, the profession would not have lasted nor would the world have been able to witness astonishing architectural achievements, such as St Peter Basilica in Rome or CCTV tower in Beijing. Perhaps this lack of understanding by the public, and a lack of desire for innovation and creativity, has affected architects.

A large percentage of the population relies on traditional builders, Payan Sayar, for constructing smaller homes, while those building taller or bigger buildings are more likely to rely on engineers than architects. Only a small percentage of the population is aware of the additional value of using architectural services to create a piece of urban structure with spatial, functional convenience and well-considered aesthetics. Often, people think that it is not worth the money to hire an architect when they can hire an engineer to construct a building.

However, if you look at other cities around the world – if you consider the sophistication of design, material and construction – it is clear that builders and engineers are not solely responsible for the results. Instead, these cities are created by collaboration across different professions: from architects, engineers and builders to cultural consultants.

As an architecture student, I have become aware of a widening gap between the education I receive abroad and the context at home. For example, in the West there is a race to build the first 3D-printed architecture, which allows the architect to design a building with modeling software and for the building to be subsequently built by machinery controlled by the computer. In Myanmar, to use the words of one local architect, it is difficult to locate a Payan Sayar who excels at tiling. On top of the technical challenges we face, cultural and societal challenges are created by a public that is uninformed about the prospects of good environments.

In the past, it might have been possible for the public to disobey regulations – for example, building a six-storey building on a plot where only three floors are allowed – but now that the country is moving forward with better governance, the people of Myanmar should really aim for the highest goals to achieve a living environment that is sustainable, clean, livable and beautiful. The government can only do so much. The real power to change hinges on a switch in attitude among the public by tapping the ambition to create a beautiful, rich cultural milieu for the nation to enjoy for decades and even centuries.

Architectural and urban-planning issues should not be restricted to professional debates. Public education should also be conducted. An engaged and better-informed public will drive our goal of creating global cities in Myanmar for the 21st century.