OA Project update: Climate Resilient Heritage

We’re progressing our Connections Through Culture (CTC) collaboration with leading Burmese architect Chaw Kalyar of STATEMENT Architecture+Design in Yangon, sponsored by the British Council.

The project benefitted from some brilliant insights and contributions during workshops at the OA Academy Project Day in April, jointly facilitated by Dr Kemi Adeyeye of Bath University, Harry Wardill CEO of Turquoise Mountain, and Alan Gardner Head of Building Adaptation at Historic England.

The workshops brought together over 100 participants — in person and online — for three lively, facilitated sessions exploring the future of the heritage of Bath (UK) and Yangon (Myanmar). The conversations were rich, interdisciplinary, and deeply grounded in lived experience. Participants explored how heritage can respond to climate challenges while strengthening identity, wellbeing, and cultural continuity and shared practical innovations, from passive climate strategies to the use of local materials and craft traditions.

Speaking after the workshops Chaw Kalyar said:

“Bath and Yangon are very different in their urban fabric, and current challenges, but both cities show how heritage can remain meaningful in a changing climate. Bath offers valuable lessons in long-term conservation, governance, and adaptive reuse, while Yangon reminds us of the importance of living heritage, community resilience, and everyday cultural continuity. By learning from each other, we can develop more inclusive and climate-resilient approaches that protect not only buildings, but also the people, memories, and identities connected to them.”

Overall, the workshop showcased the energy and collective intelligence of the OA Academy network — reinforcing a shared commitment to delivering inclusive, climate resilient heritage solutions with real social impact.