YANGON residents and businesspeople last week called for more protection for the city’s colonial buildings, which they say are central to its identity and could create future tourism opportunities.

U Nyunt Win, an architect at Studio 151, says Yangon was famed during the colonial era for having the most beautiful buildings of any city in Southeast Asia.

“The architecture styles and standards of the colonial era are as high as anything we can see from the Bagan era,” he says. “Not only do colonial-era buildings benefit from an impressive architecture style, they are also of quality construction. If we maintain these buildings properly, we can potentially make a lot of money from tourism in the long run.”

He pointed to the example of Malacca, in Malaysia, where measures have been introduced to preserve the city’s Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial buildings.

In recognition of the city’s unique history, Malacca and nearby Georgetown were added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in July 2008, which has further boosted the city’s profile as a tourist site.

“Some buildings in that city were built in the 16th and 17th centuries and they are taking steps to maintain them, whether they are religious buildings or private residential properties,” he says. “Now, people in that area have business opportunities – they can open restaurants and shops for tourists … they can earn a good income from tourism.”

U Nyunt Win says authorities in Yangon should introduce regulations to protect and maintain colonial properties, including development and zoning restrictions and limiting the population density in areas of heritage buildings.

“As these areas are often commercial zones, the population in those areas has increased and one consequence has been a need for more space. Also, the infrastructure of the downtown area [where most colonial buildings are located] is not designed for high-density living at this time,” he says.

An additional benefit of maintaining Yangon’s heritage buildings, he said, is that it will allow future generations of architects to study advanced construction techniques and ventilation systems.

A few businesses are already seeing the benefits of restoring buildings. Daw Phyu Phyu Tin, the owner of Monsoon, says customers are often attracted by the restaurant’s “grand” colonial building.

“Most of the customers who come to my restaurant do so not just for the food but also they like the peaceful and grand atmosphere of the place,” Daw Phyu Phyu Tin says. “I think colonial buildings are one of the key ways to attract foreign visitors to Yangon – they can get better modern buildings just about anywhere in the world.”

But she says renovating and maintaining an old colonial building can sometimes cost as much as constructing a new high-rise.

Mr Jacques Langer, a French architect who frequently visits Myanmar, says the construction quality of colonial buildings generally surpasses the “shoddy” building standards of their newer rivals, which he dismisses as “tall boxes”.

Mr Langer says they are also more suitable for Yangon’s climate and conserve energy use by employing effective natural ventilation systems.

“The building is cooled on the inside by natural ventilation. Some Chinese-style houses in Chinatown also do this effectively. Natural ventilation is the best solution, not air-conditioning,” he says.

Mr Langer says steps need to be taken now to preserve Yangon’s decaying colonial buildings, which are integral to the city’s character.

“I think it is certainly time to renovate some of the buildings that were formerly govern-ment offices. Buildings like the Secretariat, between Mahabandoola and Anawrahta Street – that’s a special one. It has huge gardens and excellent architecture. It could become a grand hotel or something. Now it is not used any more and needs to be renovated.”

Not everyone is so enamoured by the city’s heritage buildings, many of which are more than a century old.

Home decorator Ko Myat Min, 33, says while colonial buildings are impressive they are not always practical for contemporary living. He says the cost of purchasing and then renovating such buildings is prohibitive for all but Yangon’s most wealthy residents.

Daw Phyu Phyu Tin agrees a balance must be found between development and preservation.

“Modern high-rise buildings are also essential for the city’s development. But in my opinion, areas with many colonial buildings, such as Strand Road, should have development restrictions in place. The value of buildings in that area will also be higher than if the modern and old styles are mixed together,” she says.

“It feels great to go shopping in Bogyoke Market or have dinner at the Strand Hotel – better than at a new shopping mall or hotel. I think colonial buildings are central to the self-identity of Yangon.”

Yangon has the largest number of colonial buildings of any city in Southeast Asia. YCDC maintains a list of 189 heritage properties – mostly government and religious buildings – that cannot be demolished unless they are declared a danger to the public. To qualify, buildings must be more than 50 years old, of architectural significance and not privately owned.