Swann Arr Cultural Center, Taungdwingyi, Myanmar

Projects
Human Ecologies, Programmatic Agility, Inclusive Cities
Construction of a cultural center in rural Myanmar
The facade opens, allowing the covered market to spill into the street
  • LocationTaungdwingyi, Myanmar
  • Date2016 – 2022
  • ClientSwann Arr Group
  • Area3 000 m²
  • Budget2,5 M€
  • StatusConstruction completed in 2022
  • TeamNew South x sŌne (lead architects), Statement (local architect)
  • New South project teamSabontu Adisho, Meriem Chabani, Étienne Chobaux, Oliyad Emiru, Nuhamin Sahelmichael
  • PhotographyNyan Zay Htet, François Le Pivain
The site, in a semi-rural fabric, bordered by a pagoda
The facade of untreated fired brick makes use of a locally produced construction material while departing from habitual local construction practices that designate it as an infill to be treated with additional finishes

The project is located in the rural township of Taungdwingyi, Myanmar, instigated by a group of local residents who wish to support culture in an otherwise autarchic area. The new centre hosts diverse but complementary programs: a cinema, a covered market, an exhibition space, multipurpose rooms, offices, a café and a media library. An exterior public walkway distributes these different programs, looping around the building as an accessible extension of the public realm, and offering visitors unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape.

The project is divided between an air-conditioned ground floor and naturally ventilated upper levels
Plans of ground, first, second and third floors: a publicly accessible walk-way distributes the cultural programs

The three-storey building makes use of local materials, implemented through a participatory design process between architects, local people and businesses. The construction details were treated with meticulous attention in order to minimise the duration of construction and material costs, including transportation to site. Numerous visits to regional suppliers allowed for precise sourcing of materials.

A consultation process involving the project’s clients, their families, local residents and future users accompanied design development
Physical models provided a focus for discussions throughout the project, from design to completion

The participatory design process involved numerous collective workshops with neighbours and the clients’ families, as well as targeted site visits and the production of 1:1 prototypes. Physical models provided a means to transcend language barriers.

The participatory process resulted in:
– Creation of an open exterior stairwell to respond to the need for public spaces, while keeping maintenance affordable
– Acceptation of the use of local materials rather than concrete and steel, which were initially perceived as more modern
– Integration of local shopkeepers and a wet market on the ground floor.

The ground floor opens out to the street, providing space for additional market stalls

In addition to a primary structure of reinforced concrete used in order to meet seismic requirements, the project uses a system of brick, bamboo and wooden modules fabricated on-site.