See the Beautiful Colonial Era Buildings of Myanmar Before They Get Torn Down

2011-02-13T16:48:00.000Z

Myanmar's colonial style buildings are at risk of being torn down, according to The Los Angeles Times.

The country was annexed by the British in 1824 and like other colonized countries, visible in its architectural landscape are remnants of colonial rule that are a now a huge tourist draw.

Preservationists are struggling to save these buildings that are at risk of collapse due to neglect and threatened by property developers.

Most of Myanmar's colonial-era Baroque and Beaux Arts-style buildings were constructed between 1900 - 1920.

Source: LA Times

The Secretariat building in Yangon sits abandoned and crumbling.

Source: LA Times

Here's how the building looked in 1910 soon after it was created.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The paint peels off old colonial era tenement homes.

In 2001, 189 religious and colonial-era buildings were put on a preservation list by Myanmar's military government.

Source: LA Times

The buildings are a huge tourist draw and conservationists and the government have good reason to preserve them.

Source: LA Times

Most of these buildings were designed by architects who had never been to Yangon, formerly called Rangoon.

Source: LA Times

In 2010 a 15-year-old girl was killed after a dilapidated building collapsed.

Source: LA Times

The Yangon High Court is designed in Queen Anne style architecture.

Source: Wikipedia

The Supreme Court in downtown Yangon is one of the best preserved colonial era buildings.

Source: Wikipedia

It's been rumored that many of these sites have been bought by Chinese developers who will redevelop the sites once the economy recovers.

Source: LA Times

Bonus - The Strand hotel in a photo taken in the 1890s has now undergone renovations that cost $38 million.

Source: LA Times

Bonus - The Accountant General's Office in Yangon in the early 1900s

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Travel next across the northwest border to India

See The Beautiful Colonial Era Buildings Of Myanmar Before They Get Torn Down

Most of Myanmar's colonial-era Baroque and Beaux Arts-style buildings were constructed between 1900 - 1920.

The Secretariat building in Yangon sits abandoned and crumbling.

Here's how the building looked in 1910 soon after it was created.

The paint peels off old colonial era tenement homes.

In 2001, 189 religious and colonial-era buildings were put on a preservation list by Myanmar's military government.

The buildings are a huge tourist draw and conservationists and the government have good reason to preserve them.

Most of these buildings were designed by architects who had never been to Yangon, formerly called Rangoon.

In 2010 a 15-year-old girl was killed after a dilapidated building collapsed.

The Yangon High Court is designed in Queen Anne style architecture.

The Supreme Court in downtown Yangon is one of the best preserved colonial era buildings.

It's been rumored that many of these sites have been bought by Chinese developers who will redevelop the sites once the economy recovers.

Bonus - The Strand hotel in a photo taken in the 1890s has now undergone renovations that cost $38 million.

Bonus - The Accountant General's Office in Yangon in the early 1900s

Travel next across the northwest border to India

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