The Gamone Pwint Commercial Building makes heavy use of aluminium cladding in to create a modern, funky look.

THE rise of aluminium cladding and the creative designs it allows could change the face of Yangon in four or five years, architects in the city predict.

“We’ve only become aware of its (aluminium cladding) full potential in the past two or three years, though neighbouring countries have used it for more than 12 years,” Design 2000 Co., Ltd chairman U Sun Oo said.

Aluminium cladding is crucial to the quick and easy face-lifts needed to keep buildings in the public eye and, in doing so, in a healthy market position, U San Oo said.

Notable Yangon buildings that have made use of aluminum cladding are the Pyi Myanmar Department Store at Hledan Junction, Gamone Pwint Commercial Building and the Max Myanmar Co., Ltd building, which is currently being refurbished, at Bayintnaung.

Myanmar architects say that although a range of aluminium materials have been available in Myanmar for about 10 years, people did not initially know how to make full use of them.

“The installation technologies available, the installer’s ability and developers’ charges all hindered architects here who wanted to create contemporary buildings innovatively clad with aluminium,” ST and T Architects engineer and architect U Sithu Myint Swe said.

U Sun Oo said technology had now advanced sufficiently in Myanmar for designers to become much more creative.

The lightweight, colourful material was not, however, appropriate for all buildings in Myanmar, the architects agreed, as people still had a taste for classical designs.

What was happening in Yangon now was a first step, U San Oo said. “I think people will soon have more appreciation for modern buildings with active and dynamic designs, rather than classical or frozen ones. Then there will be more demand for modern materials such as aluminium cladding,” he said.