Most architectures in Hong Kong are built in very clean and straight vertical line with bright color tone, like the International Finance Centre and Time Square. Sometimes it is easy for the local, not to say the foreigners, to get confused because they are looked alike without any details attached to distinguish the difference between one and other. Not only the commercial area, the residential and industrial area have also taken this approach to construct their buildings. The whole city looks so dull and boring because of the standardized architectural style.
However, in Myanmar, there are diverse architectural designs of constructions, which help the travelers to identify where they are, meanwhile it has enriched artistic vide of the city. The Yangon City Hall is one the most impressive buildings in downtown because of the melding European style. The elements of Edwardian style, Beaux art and also Queen Anne Revival have been drawn to reinterpret its architectural design. The combination of the elements has been shown in the details, like the flowery sculptures on the walls, which also help to elevate the royalty of the government. It stands out from the old residential area nearby, so as The Supreme Court of Burma. The outlook of Supreme Court has an exotic vide. The domed roof and the decoration of gilding have reminded me of the Red Square in Moscow. The various architectural designs in Myanmar have not created a sense of disconnection with each other; somehow the distinct styles of buildings make the city alive and turn it into a street museum.
The more pagodas I have visited in Myanmar, the deeper understanding towards its architectural aesthetic has been developed. The architectural design has co-operated with the philosophy of Buddhism, which helps reveal what is the popular religion in the local community. There is a technical term to describe these pagodas’ constructions, which is Zedi. The bell shape is often likened to the monk’s bowl. The topmost part of the umbrella is surrounded by an orb, which has symbolized enlightenment, release from the cycle of rebirth and the attainment of Nirvana. (Doral & Griffiths,2000), The Burmese believed that by offering prayers and donations under the stupa could bring them spiritual merits, which would benefit the present life and also the future life, so they continued to build the pagoda in the Zedi style for further worship.
Street Museum : Myanmar
Living in Hong Kong for years, I have to say my sense of direction had never been improved. I could still get lost going from Central to Causeway Bay. This is properly one of my biggest life issues that I want to tackle everyday. However, when I got to Myanmar, miracle happened. Whenever time we were given freedom to explore the city, I could get back to the rendezvous point on time by myself without wandering around. Credits have to be given to the Burmese unique architecture designs because they are like the compass telling me where I am at anytime.
Although there is significant architectural diversity in Myanmar, it does not only reflect an amalgamation of style, but also presenting the local religious beliefs. During the travelling time on the plane or the bus, numerous pagodas can be found everywhere in Myanmar. There are major differences in the design compared to the temples in Hong Kong. Most temples in Hong Kong have continued the traditional Chinese architectural style and been erected in horizontal line with triangular roofs in order to show respect to the nature and also the divines, whereas the pagodas are in globular silhouette like pointing at the sky, which is perceived as disrespectful to god in Chinese’s eyes.
It is an amazement to have an architectural tour in Myanmar for days. The world different edifices are like gathering together in this little planet. And I am the blessed one to be chosen admiring these sophisticated artworks without distance. However, one thing bothered me most is that Myanmar has been experiencing speedy urban development, which has a hidden concern that the government would deconstruct the aged architectures for further infrastructures development program. The architectures in Myanmar have a syncretic mixture of the country’s memories, politics and also religious belief. If they have been swallowed by the world tend of modernization, there will be not much leave for us to study its past and the local cultures.
Other would say that heritage conservation is a perfect solution to strike a balance between urbanization and the preserving these memorable architectures, but the question is that during the renewal progress, many of the historical evidences, like the bullets holes and cracks on the walls, will be erased. The trueness of the edifices will been taken away and been turned into another fancy new buildings. It makes people could no longer feel what have happened inside once before. Therefore, It is better to leave it on their own to attract people by its own historical value and sophisticated details.
Reference:
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Doral.F. & Griffiths. C. (2000). Insight Guild. BURMA. Myanmar. U.S.:APA PUBLICATION. Page 99-103