A HOUSE should be modern yet classical, the Yangon architect cheerfully affirmed. Grand but intimate. Made of brand-new as well as traditional materials. It should be transparent, with oversized windows and sweeping views that lead from one room to the next. It must also allow privacy. The interior should be restrained and relaxed, with art deco and contemporary furniture topped off by Oriental, tribal or conceptual art.

Ko Stephen Zaw Moe Shwe, a respected architect from Spine Architects, believes 2006 will see contemporary house designs replace the “classical” trend of last year. “Contemporary designs are based on simplicity and, in the future, I see a move towards simplicity and away from complicated designs.
“Neo-classical buildings with columns were popular with conservative people in 2004 and 2005 but I think it is starting to fade away,” he said.

However, while simplicity may be the future of Myanmar homes, Ko Stephen Zaw Moe Shwe said it is long overdue that architects try more challenging designs.

Ko Zay Yar Myint Myat, an architect for Dagon International Co. Ltd, also expected to see more homes with a modern look this year.

Rather than free-flowing, open designs, many Myanmar homes did not allow for much natural lighting or ventilation, he said.

Architect Ko Zaw Moe said designing someone’s home was a very personal affair and he and his team worked closely with clients to meet their requirements. “We create residential houses with clean lines and a modern look along with regional and tropical touches,” he said.

But sometimes Myanmar buildings were constructed with a bare minimum of architectural input. Many people did not understand the importance of an architect, Ko Stephen Zaw Moe Shwe said.

“In our country people used to ask contractors to build without an architect because they were only willing to pay for the building, not for the design,” he said .

“I think people should be more interested in architecture and give architects more freedom, for their own sake.”

Architectural fees in Myanmar were among the cheapest in the world, he added.