Initiated by the local community in August 2019, the project is transforming a 0.4-acre wasteland into a recreational public space for the community. This small urban space used to be filled with bushes, wild grasses, and rubbish. Complaints of drug use and violence were recurrent.

The community started to speak up for their own rights and organized themselves in order to find a sustainable solution that could not only benefit the neighborhood but also act as a pilot project for Yangon. After 2 years of work, Plot ABC was able to raise enough funding to start the construction of phase 1.

The goal is to create a self-sustained multifunctional community public space. The project’s governance, operation, and program are all designed to create opportunities for maximizing the participation of the community.

The construction started after the military coup of February 2021, during a time of extreme political instability. This was proof that despite the events that occurred following the coup, not all projects were stopped, and that community pocket parks where kids can safely play and senior citizens can relax comfortably are more important than ever.

Phase 2 will consist of building a large-scale sports area, for playing soccer and having community gatherings. This construction has been requested by the entire community. The design is a collaboration between us and Hong Kong architect Kristof Crolla from Laboratory for Explorative Architecture & Design Ltd. (LEAD), all in bamboo.

Although Yangon seems at first glance like a really green city, public space is deeply needed, and there is a great lack of parks and green areas. According to the “Asia Green City Index”, Yangon has the lowest population/green area rate in South-East Asia. Not much attention has been given to pedestrians in the process of planning the city, sidewalks, crossroads, public spaces, and pocket parks lack and oftentimes do not exist. The architecture industry in Yangon is focused on foreign-invested large-scale development projects, looking at Yankin Township we can witness a major transformation. What used to be a middle-class social housing residential area is slowly becoming a luxury condo city filled with new shopping centers such as Myanmar Plaza, The Central, and Golden City. Architecture students are also trained to design such kinds of buildings in order to better find internships and jobs once they graduate. Experimenting with critical and creative thinking is crucial for the next generation of Burmese architects to allow for the city to change in a more humanized way. Community-led public space projects have the ability to directly address these issues in a holistic way through participatory processes. Implementation of such projects is much needed to show other possibilities of development, one that promotes inclusivity and resiliency.

One of our first architecture-built projects in Myanmar was a playground made entirely out of bamboo in a local middle school in 2019. The space that was assigned to our project was located behind the school toilet in a left-over space where the trash was being thrown. By transforming the most unfriendly part of the school into a place for imagination, the design was able to regenerate the space. Playing is an important part of a child’s personal development, this playground provides imagination-fueled, self-directed games to create new ways of playing, promote camaraderie and have the kids grow and learn about danger management in a safe environment. Following the construction of the playground, the local community noticed the impact that this kind of design can have on kids and a neighborhood, they reached out to our design studio and asked us to work together with them to build a new community public space: Plot ABC.

(Bamboo Playground: www.archdaily.com/966534)

Kathy Khine: Community member, coordinator
U Ko: Community representative
Community member board: Ma Seint, Su Linn
Raphaël Ascoli: Architect, fundraising, construction worker, coordinator
Kyaw Zin Latt: Construction supervisor, local bamboo expert
Kristof Crolla: Bamboo architect
University students who participated in phase 1:
Myo Min, Aye Mya, Pwint Myet Thwel, Myat Phyu Phyu, Sak Khine Htun, Myo Myat Min, Su Wai Kyaw, Ei Kyi Phyu Thant, May Thu Shane, Yincho Thin

Design Trust: Featured grant to co-fund phase 1 (https://designtrust.hk/grant-recipients/design-trust-feature-grantee-2020-raphael-monnier/)

AWARD : sustainable cities and communities
https://designtrust.hk/grant-recipients/design-tru
03/2021: POV episode #1 – construction
03/2021: POV episode #2 – construction
08/2021 : 'archdaily' - article