FUTURE
MEETS
DESIGN
THE STRAND
THE GAW FAMILY MAKES BIG INVESTMENT IN YANGON BY RESTORING THE SARKIES ' MODERN COLONIAL , THE STRAND .
Contributed by RAINI HAMDI
Myanmar ’ s capital city , Yangon , does not lack historic and architecturally significant buildings — over 180 at last count . None , however , operate as a hotel except The Strand , which reopened last November after a six-month transformation of the building , constructed in 1901 by the famous Sarkies brothers , who starting in the late 1800s dominated hospitality in Malaysia , Singapore and Burma for some 50 years , with legends such as Raffles . They don ’ t make hotels like that anymore . Step back in time when travelers arrive , after weeks aboard a steamship , at the door of The Strand . The lobby stretches out before them , above it a three-story space leading to a skylight . Their eyes scan the marble and teak flooring , ceiling fans , chandeliers , lacquer wood furniture , Burmese antiques – and feel they have arrived .
The last major refurbishment of The Strand was 1993 , when it badly needed investments in air-conditioning , in-room technology , décor and back-of-house facilities . A 10-month project took three years due to the hotel ’ s dilapidated state and difficulty in finding skilled labor and materials . As part of that project , 10,000 meters of copper piping was installed , 50 tons of marble were put down on the floors and 166 tons of teak were installed for windows , floors , doors and paneling .
The owners – a group of Hong Kong investors led by the Gaw family privately with some Myanmar interest – closed the hotel last year to further preserve its personality and heritage , while creating “ Myanmar ’ s first true luxury urban resort ” by leveling a piece of land directly behind the original building . That will boast the hotel ’ s first swimming pool , spa and gardens when completed this November .
“ This latest refurbishment will enable The Strand Yangon to regain its historical positioning and be recognized as a national landmark , similar to what the Mandarin Oriental is to Bangkok and Raffles for Singapore ,” says Christophe Vielle , CEO and co-founder , GCP Hospitality , which manages the hotel for the investors . “ Our decisions had more to do with upgrading our infrastructure within the hotel , enhancing the colonial architecture with subtle modern accents and creating strong gourmet culinary experiences .”
MODERN COLONIAL Modern colonial needn ’ t be an oxymoron .
May 2017 hotelsmag . com 35