A YOUNG architect who abandoned a promising career in his native China is hoping to transform the look of Myanmar’s new buildings.

Mr Hou Ke Nian, 31, took his architecture degree 10 years ago from An Hui Culture University and launched himself into what he also calls his hobby – producing exciting new buildings designs.

Since graduating, Mr Hou has worked on the drawings of about 500 buildings in China, and after arriving here in 2004 he has worked on about 30 buildings in Yangon. His work can be seen at Espace Avenir hotel, the Chinese Embassy, Palm Court Villa, the International Health & Beauty Centre (IHBC) and a range of showrooms and houses.

Mr Hou moved to Yangon because he married a Myanmar woman.
Comparing his work here to his career in China, he sees both advantages and disadvantages.

“Design fees in Yangon are only about one third of those in Shenzhen in southern China, because customers there value new design, enjoy better living standards and have firmer opinions on architectural concepts,” Mr Hou said.

“My career was prospering in China, but I abandoned it and decided to settle here because I want to see architecture booming here. Another reason is that Myanmar has a more friendly environment and better customer relations,” he said.

Mr Hou said that dealing with customers was more pleasant here, but he comments that house owners do not have prior consultations with architects, which is one reason why, in his view, the architecture industry here is less highly developed.

“Many of the houses in Yangon lack an architecturally based design approach, largely because owners don’t consult architects enough,” he said.

One key to the development of architecture in Myanmar is to overcome the shortage of decorative materials. Mr Hou says this is because of import procedures and the absence of a leading company to introduce new materials to the public.

Mr Hou says more foreign architects are needed in Yangon to generate fresh designs and modernize the approach to building. As far as I know, there are only three Chinese architects in Yangon, which is not much compared to the number of emerging buildings,” he said.

Mr Hou keeps up with the trends by studying architecture books and sometimes travelling overseas to inspect new designs.