The first studio dealt with “temple climbing”, an issue that has been affecting Bagan for decades and deemed as incompatible with the spiritual significance and religious use of the monuments. The term relates to all activities that involve standing on the monuments that are spread throughout the overall site, usually with the objective of obtaining a panoramic view during sunrise and sunset. Many local actors and government authorities viewed the practice as incompatible with the religious use of Bagan and also as harmful to the historic fabric of the monuments.

The studio aimed to undertake a careful assessment of this issue and to develop concepts for alternative viewing platforms and management that would be sensitive to the heritage environment and enhance the protection of the overall site. A central component of the field work in Bagan was to understand the multiple values of the site as well as local perspectives on the issue of temple climbing in order to be able to develop suitable design ideas and management proposals.

In collaboration with the Department of Archaeology and local bamboo craftsmen, the students built a temporary and reversible viewing platform prototype to showcase a potential alternative to “temple climbing”.

For more insights into the work of Studio Bagan 2017 you can download our e-publication >>> here (62MB).