Urban Heritage Planning & Management

Legislative Framework

Yangon’s urban heritage is in need of statutory protection with comprehensive city planning,  and legal frameworks and regulations to protect heritage properties as well as to channel the development pressures. Recently enacted the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage Regions Law (2019), the Protection and Preservation of Antique Objects Law (2015), the Protection and Preservation of Ancient Buildings Law (2015) are basically revision of previous acts and laws but have extended its coverage and governing system, for example, inclusion of colonial heritage buildings in urban areas, and formation of National, Region/State level and District level management committees that include individuals and organisations outside of the Ministry of Religious and Culture in relevant cultural regions. 

YHT Director Daw Moe Moe Lwin has been a member of the National Level Protection and Conservation Committee, headed by the Vice President (2) since 2016. YHT had drafted the proposed Urban Heritage Conservation Law in consultation  with other experts and local authorities.  It was submitted to the then Yangon Region Government in May 2013. It allows, for the first time, urban heritage places such as buildings, parks, streetscapes, conservation areas, moveable objects and archaeological sites to be considered as heritage items. It does not mandate an age by which a place can be considered valuable and instead acknowledges that Yangon’s urban heritage has an evolving and diverse value for the community. The proposed law suggested to form a regional level commission consisting of various relevant government departments and non-government organizations including YCDC and YHT to oversee conservation and management of heritage places across Yangon. 

The proposed law was not proceeded to be passed as a legislation, but with the YCDC bylaw that covers to preserve listed heritage properties in Yangon.  

Close Working Relationship with YRG and YCDC

YCDC Heritage List

In 1996, Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) created an official list of 189 heritage buildings and widely publicized in newspapers in 2001 in response to the rapid demolishing of the city’s significant heritage properties. This list is an important starting point that being referred to prevent damaging the structure through YCDC bylaw when any demolishing or change proposals is submitted to YCDC relating to any building in this list.  In current practice, YCDC is also referring to YHT’s inventory list (link*) for advice. The list covers about 15 townships in older part of Yangon where majority of heritage properties exist. This list can also be expanded to include not only individual buildings but several conservation areas where neighborhoods and streetscapes have a collective heritage value.

YCDC’s Proposed Zoning Plan and Building Regulations 

Heritage conservation will not be fully achieved without integrating with sustainable long-term urban planning and effective management of the city. Since its founding year, YHT has been actively participating in many committees and working groups regarding urban development management of Yangon. YHT Director Daw Moe Moe Lwin served as a member of the “Zoning Committee” formed by YCDC in 2013 to draft the zoning and land-use plan that will guide development activities across Yangon. YHT has proposed a comprehensive height control in  selected zones having significant heritage characters to include in zoning plan. Since 2018 JICA Study Team has been assisting YCDC Urban Planning Department in developing future Building Regulations for Yangon. YHT is being consulted together with the Association of Myanmar Architects.  

Working with Yangon Region Government

YHT has been assisting Yangon Region Government (YRG) for proposed urban revitalization projects and heritage building renovation projects. Some of these include proposed TWHUP (Transport, Waterfront and Heritage Urban Project, 2017-18) funded by AFD, supported by AICS (Yangon), The Secretariat, Yangon General Hospital, Government Technical Institute Main Building renovation, Yangon University compound etc.   

YHT is a member of the Secretariat Oversight Committee formed by YRG in 2017 to oversee its development and provide guidance. 

Assisting Other Government Organisations

 Providing technical guidance on renovation of existing heritage buildings, YHT took part in drafting the Myanmar National Building Code, a joint initiative between the Ministry of Construction and UN-Habitat, organized by the Myanmar Engineering Society in 2010.. 

 Additionally, with the request of Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC), YHT has drafted a proposed set of investment principles for places with heritage significance in Yangon. The principles are designed to ensure that Yangon’s unique urban heritage is given proper consideration and is conserved during development projects.

 YHT also sits in Union level ‘Myanmar National Cultural Central Committee’ as a member chaired by the Vice President (2) to oversee nationwide cultural related and conservation works.

 There are a close working relationship between YHT and the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture such as renovation and adaptation of National Library which YHT has initiated together with Myanmar Library Foundation to request to convert former Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise office building that was originally BOC Headquarter during British rule. Current works include renovation of General Aung San Museum that was former home of the national leader and the Ching Tsong Palace, former private residence compound of a Chinese tycoon that became Yangon Arts and Performing Arts School.

Works in Other Cities

YHT’s works have been extended beyond Yangon to historic cities in other states and regions. YHT had helped recorded the heritage map of Kalaw in Shan State, and produced measured drawings for old Post Office and Railways Station. 

 In Symbio City Project, jointly implemented by the Department of Urban and Housing Development under Ministry of Construction and the Swedish Government. YHT was collaborated with project team to draft a heritage map for Kalaw and Dawai in Tanatharyi Region. 

YHT has also made assessment of 2 heritage high school buildings in Thaton and Kyaik Hto in Mon State with the request of the Ministry of Education in 2018. 

Drafting of tourism opportunities and planning was done for the historic hilltop pagoda Kyaik Htee Yoe in Mon State and Hsipaw Township in Shan State.