Third Place Winner
Mental Healing Hands
Design by
Shin Thant Htet, Hsu Yin Htway & Nay Win Aung
"A considered proposal but lacking power in the (re)presentation. The 'spectrum' connect is unclear. Good interior visualisations."
-Dr Sam Clark
"interesting design, good use of materials, sensitive approach to the people"
-Sunanda Satwah
Shin Thant Htet, Hsu Yin Htway & Nay Win Aung
Shin Thant Htet
Completed her Bachelor of Architecture Degree from Thanlyin Technological University, Myanmar. Shin is seeking new adventures in the architectural field to improve her skills at international level. She has a great interest in urban and placemaking works through community collaboration.
Hsu Yin Htway
Hsu is a 27 years old practicing architect, currently living in Myanmar. Hsu has a Bachelor of Architecture from Technological University (Hmawbi). Hsu is currently working as a Junior Architect at an architectural firm in Myanmar with three years’ experience ever since she graduated. Hsu believes that a result driven and hard worker, with a hunger to learn and succeed in work, provides strong motivation.
Nay Win Aung
Nay Win is studying architecture at Mandalay Technological University, Myanmar.Actively participating in architecture workshops and competitions. Greatly interested in sustainable design and simple, clean and organic concepts.
Celebrating Creativity & Vision
Winner’s Spotlight: An Exclusive Interview
Discover the story behind the victory — from concept to creation.
What is your design philosophy?
Shin Thant Htet
In my philosophy, architecture is more than just a solid material and not just theory-based design. Nature and the environment have an influence on me when I’m doing design work. When I say the environment, it also includes the connection between the people and the environment, and their stories behind it. Based on that, I create designs in the most simplistic way with our emotional senses and the way our body responds to nature such as sounds, smell, and the color of material. Every building is made for a specific use in a specific place for a specific society. I would be proud of my design which can support the community needs, with its own peace, convenient and meaningful thoughts.
Hsu Yin Htway
My basic design idea is “Form ever follows function “. It’s a principle that proposes a building's purpose should be the starting point for its design rather than its aesthetics. I believe that recognizing the need is the primary condition for design.
Nay Win Aung
I believe a good design can bring comprehensive and innovative solutions to the given challenges which also respect the context and culture of the community.
Can you briefly explain your understanding of the topic and the source of ideas?
Shin Thant Htet
Nature heals us. When we talk about healing architecture and the creation of retreat centers, we should think about the connection between the people and the natural environment. My team and I tried to understand the healing through nature and architecture before we developed our design ideas. We all have the similar goal from the beginning, and focused on creating a healing space for the people in our country who are oppressed by the dictatorship. After getting through these difficult days, we have decided to donate this design to our real people selected government, to represent each and every one who tortured and traumatized because of the war and the coup.
The traumatic experiences our people suffered everyday innovated us to express ourselves in our design. We focus on the victims of military violence to speak up about their mental health and struggles. Healing is long-term planning with a specific destination. As we mentioned in our design summary, we designed with five senses of healing together using local elements to become the physical and emotional support.
The existing water body, the forest, the green spaces, and the mountains are becoming the main actors of our design focused on “Environmentally Friendly '' approach. According to our site nature, we tried to use geometrical shapes, and the simplest forms within the green environment.
Hsu Yin Htway
I understand the Retreat Centre as a quiet or secluded place where people may stay for a period devoted to prayer, study, or relaxation. Retreat Centre competition intends to understand spaces of the built environment and its effect on human mind and behaviour. This kind of Architecture fosters various levels of controlled interaction between people and space. This healing space is built to express the power of people coming back to alive after being oppressed and tortured by the military over six decades.
Nay Win Aung
To my understanding, retreat centre would be a space that facilitates mindful conversation but also accommodates self-reflection and relaxation. It would be a place to take a break from the stressful cycle of day to day life. While choosing the site location, we wanted this project to take place where the concept of healing the mind is not well explored yet and where people who really need it would benefit most from this kind of facility. As part of the concept, we came up with the idea to create a collection of spaces that have a strong connection to nature and context of the site. Then, we explored locally available materials and local-familiar building techniques and forms to create an unimposing but welcoming atmosphere.
When and how were you first introduced to architecture?
Shin Thant Htet
When I was young, I went to the Bagan Heritage Site with my family. Bagan is an ancient city of Myanmar with over three thousand ancient monuments and pagodas. I remembered walking around Ananda Temple which is vaulted and high with narrow corridors, detailed mural paintings and walkways. Architects in that era did those masterpiece works with incredible use of natural light and ventilation. I admired that, but I didn’t understand what it really was at that age. When I finished high school, I was encouraged by my father to study architecture and I also believed in myself that this is where I belonged. I have found my passion for this career since Day 1.
Hsu Yin Htway
After passing matriculation, I chose to attend architecture. Because my dream is to create good living spaces, buildings and environments for everyone. Especially, I want to give a nice building for my family with my own design idea.
Nay Win Aung
I have always liked the style of vintage houses and colonial buildings as a kid. They gave off a vibe very different from the newer buildings around us. After high school, I joined architecture school pursuing the childhood dream of designing homes but I’ve learned that it’s so much more than that.
What does architecture mean to you?
Shin Thant Htet
In my opinion, architecture is more than just a spatial creation or a form. A piece of architecture can be considered as the body that can touch us to our hearts with behind-the-scenes stories. For me, architects are the people who have the power to give the voice via building designs. To create a good architecture design, it requires a passionate effort and strong commitment to solve all the problems in design. It’s not easy but the result is always amazing. I love every single step of the design process. I want to sketch design concepts from different points of views. The more I practice the concepts, the stronger I know how to create a good design. Architecture is becoming a part of my life now.
Hsu Yin Htway
Architecture means to me is the art, science and profession of planning, designing and supervising the construction of buildings, landscapes, communities and furnishings in our environment in accordance with the principles of utility, strength and aesthetics.
Nay Win Aung
Architecture is a very powerful language that can be used to express the ideas and values in the form of built environment. It is my greatest passion and I love the challenging but fulfilling nature of the profession as well.
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