Gems rises to the top
Nominated for: Best Residential Architectural Design and Best Condominium Design
Gems Garden Condominium in Hlaing township comprises four 21-storey apartment blocks. Arranged in a U-shape to conform to the site, the project is designed with views and orientations of the main living spaces for its residents in mind.
Work on the project launched in September 2013, with the first two towers now complete and the last two towers almost finished.
It is Capital Development Ltd’s maiden property development project in Yangon city, according to a company official, and is envisioned as part of a modern and prestigious high-rise residential project.
“It is part of Capital City, an ambitious mixed use development which will revitalise the Insein Road vicinity,” the official said.
The condos come with a range of amenities including a gate and guarded living environment that is safe for families, a grand entrance with quality landscaping and water-related features, as well as parking, pools, outdoor BBQ and recreational areas, a hall, a gym, outdoor exercise areas among other amenities.
RSP Architect is the architect for the project.
Golden City gardens with French inspiration
Nominated for: Best Landscape Architecture Design
The joint Singapore-Myanmar developers behind Yankin township’s ambitious US$230 million Golden City project are proud of the area set aside for outdoor gardens.
The project is slated to eventually include residential buildings, a five-star hotel and a shopping mall, as well as the open spaces.
Jeffrey Lu, an official with the developers, said the planners of its gardens have turned to France for inspiration.
“The garden’s principles of symmetry, fine proportions of landscaping, bountiful vegetation, flowing fountains, majestic statues, and elegant trails throughout the lush lawns recall the great romantic scenes from 17th century France,” said Jeffrey Lu, a developer with Golden City.
The firm aims to provide residents with a relaxing and green home environment that is essential to a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle, he added.
The project’s high rises will join those of others such as the Yangon Sedona and Vietnam-owned HAGL that are rising to the east of Inya Lake.
Rose Garden’s modern spaces to evoke the past
Nominated for: Best Hotel Development, Best Hotel Architectural Design, Best Hotel Interior Design
The Rose Garden Hotel on Upper Pansodan Street had its soft opening a year ago, and has gradually been opening additional rooms, adding much-needed hotel space to Yangon.
Developed by Hong Kong firm Emerald Development, it sits on 4.4 acres near the Yangon zoo and Kandawgyi Lake.
“The most interesting part of the hotel is the inspiration for the design, which is rooted in Myanmar’s ancient culture,” said human resources manager U Soe Tint. It draws on the style of buildings constructed by the Kingdom of Bagan while meeting modern design, he said.
“The appearance ties together the clean lines of the 21st century and the textual richness of the 11th century.”
The Rose Garden has worked to preserve large trees on its property.
The guest rooms and public areas themselves have an interior design that make extensive use of wood, rattan and bamboo, along with matching soft furnishings, said U Soe Tint.
“Most of this material was locally sourced and hand crafted,” he said, pointing to items such as the doors, rattan chairs and sofas. The hotel also comes equipped with modern conveniences, such as WiFi and energy-efficient electronics and lighting.
Tea House’s classic look
Nominated for: Best Renovation
Situated on the first floor of an early-1900s colonial building, the Rangoon Tea House has built a reputation as home to a quality twist on local cuisine.
While sipping a cuppa in a local tea shop is a deeply ingrained part of Myanmar, sometimes it is a little more pleasant with modern amenities like air conditioning and high-speed internet.
Rangoon Tea House was designed as a busy bistro, mimicking the life inside local tea houses, and not intended as a fine dining restaurant. It aims to allow locals and foreigners alike to eat without the frills of dressing up and spending exorbitant amounts of money.
Ma Mya Myitzu, the interior designer for Rangoon Tea House, said she left the US for Myanmar in 2011, and noticed a lot of new spaces were under construction, but not many people were fixing up and restoring old places.
Before starting the project, she asked, “What is contemporary Myanmar style and who is going to reinvent and revive it?” Ma Mya Myitzu said she had a chance to answer this question, while also working to push forth her generation’s take on Myanmar culture.
Yet while the Rangoon Tea House has a classic feel, a lot of modern technology went in to the project.
“Although the loft is very old and there were termite issues, the walls were opened up and enveloped with water proof, anti fungus quality Shera [fibre cement] boards for functionality and safety yet one would never know this unless you knocked on the boards. It just looks like an old loft, painted white,” she said.
A lot of thought also went into the furnishings. The seating is a mix of British bent wood Thornet chairs, juxtaposed against local 1080s style Burmese chairs.
Source: Myanmar Times
