Thanlyin HERitage Centre

Supported by the German Embassy and the German Federal Foreign Office, the Thanlyin HERitage Centre (THC) merges cultural heritage preservation with gender equity across Myanmar’s built environment. Grounded in women-led participatory design workshops, the initiative revitalises a historic municipal structure to function as a vibrant community hub and an active, on-site vocational training laboratory. The intervention directly challenges structural barriers in the male-dominated construction sector by training female workers in specialised architectural restoration trades, including stonework, woodcraft, and traditional lime application. To ensure long-term economic autonomy, the project serves as the operational launchpad for the Women Maintenance Team (WMT) - transitioning trainees from hands-on apprenticeships into independent, professional maintenance practitioners. THC establishes a scalable social precedent: safeguarding tangible urban heritage while building dignified, secure technical career pathways for women.