Mandalay is one of the old cities in Yadanapon Period (1858.AD-1885.AD), and the last devastating war had seriously destroyed the palace buildings and left with only the memories of the past grandeur of the seat of the two kings: reign Mindon and Thibaw. In Yadanapon Period, the Royal Architecture or Palace Architecture arouse the desire to visualize the glittering halls and spires that they stood on the platform in the center of the fort. It remains many architectural significant of Myanmar Architecture for our future generation. Therefore, the author traces back the style of Mandalay Old Palace at first, which is derived from which previous styles and then he studies on the layout, functional relationships and spatial relationships of Palace Buildings which are mainly taken into consideration. Then, the author analyzes the architectural aspects and design elements of Palace Buildings. The purpose of this paper is to conserve the ritual expression, architectural styles, and characteristics of Myanmar Architecture. Moreover, the author would like to figure out the aesthetic evaluation of Royal Architecture in Yadanapon Period with systematic analysis which is based on literature review, site studies, observations and his opinions

Aye, Tin Tin

Hlaing, Maung

Htin, Zwe Naing

American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS)

  61   American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology,  and Sciences  (ASRJETS) ISSN (Print) 2313-4410, ISSN (Online) 2313-4402 © Global Society of Scientific Research and Researchers  http://asrjetsjournal.org/   Aesthetic Evaluation of Royal Palace in Yadanapon Period (Eastern Royal Zone)  Zwe Naing Htina*, Tin Tin Ayeb, Maung Hlaingc a,b,cDepartment of Architecture, Yangon Technological University, Yangon, 11031, Myanmar aEmail: zwe.2009architect@gmail.com bEmail: tintinaye7@gmail.com cEmail: drmgmghlaing@gmail.com    Abstract Mandalay is one of the old cities in Yadanapon Period (1858.AD-1885.AD), and the last devastating war had seriously destroyed the palace buildings and left with only the memories of the past grandeur of the seat of the two kings: reign Mindon and Thibaw. In Yadanapon Period, the Royal Architecture or Palace Architecture arouse the desire to visualize the glittering halls and spires that they stood on the platform in the center of the fort. It remains many architectural significant of Myanmar Architecture for our future generation. Therefore, the author traces back the style of Mandalay Old Palace at first, which is derived from which previous styles and then he studies on the layout, functional relationships and spatial relationships of Palace Buildings which are mainly taken into consideration. Then, the author analyzes the architectural aspects and design elements of Palace Buildings. The purpose of this paper is to conserve the ritual expression, architectural styles, and characteristics of Myanmar Architecture. Moreover, the author would like to figure out the aesthetic evaluation of Royal Architecture in Yadanapon Period with systematic analysis which is based on literature review, site studies, observations and his opinions. Keywords: Mandalay; Palace Architecture; functional relationship; spatial relationships; Myanmar Architecture; aesthetic evaluation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * Corresponding author.  American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2017) Volume 27, No  1, pp 61-72 62  1. Introduction  In Myanmar, the formal name of Mandalay Old Palace is “Mya Nan San Kyaw” in Burmese. Mandalay was founded by King Mindon in 1858 as a new capital. It is located at 21˚59’ N and 96˚6’ E, and occupied part of a plain which stretches about thirteen kilometers from the Irrawadddy on the west, the Shan Hills on the east, the Madaya river on the north, and the Myitnge river on the south. After the disastrous Second Anglo-Burmese War of 1852, the former royal palace of Amarapura was dismantled and moved to the new location at the foot of Mandalay Hill [6]. The construction of the palace compound was officially completed on Monday, 23rd in May 1859. The palace was not only the royal residence but also the center of kingdom. It is also said that the royal palace of Burma was regarded as the symbolic center of the cosmological island of Mount Meru [3]. 1.1. Background History of Mandalay Old Palace In 1853, King Mindon ascended the throne of Burma. In 1856, he felt on very tired of his capital, namely Amarapura where is associated in his mind with the unfortunate reign of his elder brother and the humiliation of his country. And so new city set up on Friday the 13th of February, 1857, the first stone of Mandalay was laid to please the King and a hundred and fifty thousand people prepared to give up their homes and all their associations, and move to a bare new city. Five great officers of state were selected by the King to supervise the construction of the new city. It was to be a perfect square of 6,666 feet; the walls were to attain a height of 18 cubits; at intervals of 555 feet there were to be turrets for watchmen with gold-tipped spires; and there were to be twelve gates, of which the four principal ones were to bear away from the palace to cardinal points [6]. The greatest care was taken to follow the traditional plan of the older capitals of the country; and it is in this perpetuation of an ancient tradition that the true architectural interest of Mandalay resides. 2. Scope of Study This paper is primarily scoped to focus on study and analysis of the followings. (i) Study on the buildings in Eastern Royal Zone at the Mandalay Old Palace. (ii) Study on the distinctive architectural features without included the detail ornamentation of the Mandalay Old Palace in Yadanapon Period. (iii) Figure out the aesthetic evaluation of Myanmar Old Palace in Yadanapon Period. 3. Research Methodology More informative photographs, site and building measurements are collected for future references and data analysis. As the whole study is the analysis of zoning and function, building elements, and aesthetic evaluation. The datum of Mandalay Old Palace are synthesized from the readings a perspective on literature review that has been consistent with their ritual or beliefs, the author opinions or self-criticism and practice regarding with the verification on past designs. The aesthetic evaluation is figured out with the formal aesthetic with architectural design principles. The evaluation or assessment is conducted from alternative perspectives according to appropriate criteria and design principles upon the royal buildings on the palace platform. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2017) Volume 27, No  1, pp 61-72 63  4. Architectural Aspects of Royal Palace This section will mainly focus on the site access, gates and doorways, site elements in the palace compound and zoning, building layouts on the palace platform, types of roofs and pyat-that, and color usage at the Mandalay Old Palace, in Yadanapon Period. 4.1. Site Access to the Palace The master plan of the royal city was confined with 144-square block grid patterned city, anchored by a 16 square block of palace compound at the center and Mandalay Hill was located at the northern side of the palace city wall. The royal compound was surrounded by equal four sides in 6666 feet long walls and a moat 210 feet wide, 11 feet in deep.         Figure 1: Site Access to the Royal Palace 4.2. Gateways of Mandalay Old Palace According to the studied on the architectural aspects of Royal Palace in Yadanapon Period, there were twelve gates on outer palace city walls so as to access toward the inner city walls of the royal palace. 4.3. Site Elements in the Compound of the Mandalay Old Palace The Mandalay old palace compound is a complex building type that contains a variety of site elements. The layout of the site elements can be seen or marked in the following layout plan of Mandalay Old Palace.  There are several elements can be found in the compounds of Mandalay Old Palace. Some site elements found in the palace compounds are the City Wall, the Moats and Bridges, the Gateways and Bastions, the Masonry  American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2017) Volume 27, No  1, pp 61-72 64  Screens, Clock Tower, Tooth-Relic tower, Thibaw’s Monastery, Hlut-daw (Supreme Court), the Mint, and the Clusters of Royal Family’s Tombs [5].  Figure 2: Gateways at the Mandalay Old Palace  Figure 3: Site Plan of the Mandalay Old Palace [5]   American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2017) Volume 27, No  1, pp 61-72 65  4.4. Zoning on the Platform of the Mandalay Old Palace   Figure 4: Zoning Diagram of the Mandalay Old Palace 4.5. Building Layouts of the Mandalay Old Palace The main royal buildings were settled on the east-west axial direction. The royal palace is constructed on the elevated brick platform and plank flooring laid on that platform. The buildings on the eastern part were mainly used for office or meeting space.  The apartments of Queens and Princesses would see at the west side of the palace platform. The building layout and composition, and architectural styles of this palace are similar to the Inn-wa (Ava) Royal Palace in Konbaung Period.    4.6. Types of Roofs There are two types of roofs such as pitch roof and flat roof that would be seen at the Mandalay Old Palace. The classification of the roof forms are Seven-tiered Spire Roof, Three-tiered Hip Roof, Two-tiered Hip Roof, Three-tiered Roof (Yun-htet), and Two-tiered Gable Roof which all would be seen at the buildings on the palace platform. 4.7. Color Decoration at the Buildings of the Mandalay Old Palace   American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2017) Volume 27, No  1, pp 61-72 66  There were four main color decorations that would be seen the buildings on the platform of the palace. The compartments completely gilt embellished on the buildings which was commonly used by the King, and compartments of the Chief Queens. The compartments partially gilt over red paint embellished on the Sanu-zaung, Dawei Halls, Le-tha-zaung and Tea Hall.  The building painted red would be seen at the apartments of the lesser queens, and high tower (Nan-Myint). The building painted white would be seen at the oak-tikes which were mainly constructed with brick during the reign of King Thibaw. 4.8. Types of Pyat-that at the Buildings of the Mandalay Old Palace  Figure 5: Layout Plan and Space Utilization of the Mandalay Old Palace  American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2017) Volume 27, No  1, pp 61-72 67    Figure 6: Elevations of the Mandalay Old Palace [5]  4.9. Opening Designs Most of the doorways were richly decorated in the buildings of the royal palace, which were mainly constructed with wooden frames and leaves.      American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2017) Volume 27, No  1, pp 61-72 68  Table 1: Types of Pyat-that at the Buildings of the Mandalay Old Palace Type Names Location Figure Remark I  Lay-daunt Pyat-that Mye-nan-pyatthat-taw-gyi  Square plan-shaped and seven-tiered roof spire Highest, largest, grandest and noblest pyat-that   Lay-daunt Pyat-that Southern & Northern Consecrated Pyat-that  Square plan-shaped and seven-tiered roof spire Timber structure pyat-that   Lay-daunt Pyat-that High tower (Nan-myint)  Square plan-shaped and seven-tiered roof spire Timber structure pyat-that II  Yuan-sat-pyay Pyat-that Four central gates of outer city walls  Seven-tiered roof spire Timber structure pyat-that  Yuan-sat-pyay Pyat-that Flank gates of outer city walls  Five-tiered roof spire Timber structure pyat-that  Yuan-sat-pyay Pyat-that At the four corners of outer city walls  Five-tiered roof spire and two Yuan-saungs were included on both sides Timber structure pyat-that III  Brick Pyat-that King Mindon’s tomb  Square plan-shaped  Brick pyat-that, plastered over and whitewashed    American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2017) Volume 27, No  1, pp 61-72 69  Table 2: Some Opening Designs at the Mandalay Old Palace Opening Designs Location Material Remarks  Doorway at the Zei-ta-wun-zaung Wooden door it is the gilded doorways with detailed open-work foliage on jambs and lintel and highly adorned with wood carvings  Doorway at the North Samoke Wooden door it is the gilded doorways with graceful proportion and highly embellished with wood carvings  Door design at the Glass Palace Wooden door this door design is the creation of gilded glass mosaic incorporated with semicircular arch and square blocks  Door design at the Middle Nan-ma-daw Ma-hay-thi-zaung Wooden door with semicircular glass fanlight fanlight design is the floral shaped-glass in the semicircular and the upper door leaves having louvered opening  Door design at the King’s Mother’s Compartment Wooden door with semicircular glass fanlight semicircular fanlight on top adorned with floral motifs and the door leaves is in the forms of inclined square blocks (Yar-sa-mat-kwet)  5. Aesthetic Evaluation of the Mandalay Old Palace The following design principles & design aesthetics have been evaluated and which all are primarily analyzed American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2017) Volume 27, No  1, pp 61-72 70  on the Mandalay Old Palace during the Yadanapon Period (1858-1885AD). Table 3: Applied Design Principles at the Mandalay Old Palace Item Design Principles Type Design Principles A Building Approach E Contrast in Direction  Frontal approach to the Royal Palace    Contrast in direction at the palace facade B            Balance  F Proportion  Symmetrical composition of Royal Palace compound     Balance on palace facade  Proportion of Mye-nan-pyat-that-taw-gyi  Proportion of the palace facade C Emphasis G Human Scale   Emphasis at the palace facade   Human scale in the Mye-nan-pyat-that-taw-gyi D Unity with Dominance H View & Movement     Unity with dominance at the palace facade   View & Movement toward Mandalay Od Palace American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2017) Volume 27, No  1, pp 61-72 71  6. Structure and Material Usage Table 4: Structure and Material Usage at the Mandalay Old Palace Sr.No Components or Building elements Structure & Materials Remarks 1 Palace Buildings Walls Teak panel or plank Brick masonry Some Sa-nu and Samokes devoid walls and used railing with balustrades 2 City walls Brick with red earthern masonry Under the base of main gates & flank gates’ pyat-that 3 Raised Platform Brick retaining wall Surrounded by two brick walls, forming with the platform two enclosures 4 Floors Timber floor Supported with traditional wooden joists and members (Yet-ma, Nwa, Kaladet) 5 Roofs Wood Shingles (Conjecture) C.G.I sheet roofing (in 1904 AD) Except Assembly Hall, Fountain Apartment, Myauk Pan-gon-oak-tike 6 Columns Circular Teak column Coated with glass mosaic column The kun-sin-taing extended from the ground to the uppermost roof 7 Openings Wooden doors & windows Some Sanu and Samokes devoid openings 8 Structures Timber framed structure Except Oak-tike  9 Framing Systems Post & beam system Wooden joinery work Using Sei-ywe-zet to connect the extended height of pillars and length of the horizontal timber members  7. Conclusions According to the learning of the royal palace in Yadanapon period, the palace buildings are strongly developed along the east-west axis. The buildings layout is composed of eastern royal zone, western royal zone and apartments of queens and princesses zone. The most commonly used of building materials are brick, timber, red earthern masonry and the construction technologies are applied with post & beam system for structural member, brick retaining walls at palace platform, and the floor joists are fabricated with wooden joinery method. As aesthetic evaluation of the palace buildings, the Mye-nan-pyat-that-taw-gyi is the auspicious buildings in the American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2017) Volume 27, No  1, pp 61-72 72  palace compound, it is the fact that the highest, grandest and noblest pyat-that with graceful proportion. At the facade of the whole palace, the highest pyat-that of Mye-nan is emphasized by smaller yet well-accented or articulated buildings so as to contribute to the awe with which one could behold; this adds to the overall composition of the facade being proportional and prominent. Proportionality of the accented buildings is a pleasant sight only to be made more majestic by the building at the center which seems to go higher with each floor level thus adding to the overall grandeur. The design principles such as formal balance, building emphasis, unity with dominance, and contrast in direction and pattern repetitions were applied to show the expression of palace architecture. The noticeable human scale could feel with lofty sensation inside the Mye-nan-pyat-that-taw-gyi. The square plan-shaped of the lay-daunt-pyat-that is significantly built in Yadanapon period and the difference between its width and height proportion is one and half times that pointed to the upward direction. The focal point or the eye catching of the palace design in Yadanapon period is created with Mye-nan-pyat-that-taw-gyi and oriented with four samokes on each cardinal point, emphasis with frontal approach on each side.  Acknowledgements The author would like to gratitude all teachers from the Department of Architecture at Yangon Technological University and also special thanks to his supervisor for providing guidance, sharing knowledge and encouragement for completing this paper. References  [1] Chotima Chaturawong, The Architecture of Mon Buddhist Monasteries in Lower Burma, Dolina Millar, Thailand, 2011 [2] Francis D.K. Ching, Building Construction Illustrated, Van Nostrand Reinhold, the United States of America, 1991 [3] Jacques Dumarcay, The Palaces of South-east Asia Architecture and Customs, Oxford University Press, 1991 [4] Sylvia Fraser-Lu, Splendour in Wood, The Buddhist Monasteries of Burma, Orchid Press, Bangkok, 2001 [5] The Directorate of Archaeological Survey, “The Mandalay Palace”, The Rangoon University Press, Rangoon (Burma), 1963 [6] V.C.Scott.O’Connor, Mandalay and Other Cities of the Past in Burma, Hutchinson & Co.Paternoster Row, London, 1907 [7] Anonymous. No date, Parapike of Palace Map, Konbaung Period [8] Anonymous. No date, Old Photo Records, Archaeology and National Museum Department, Mandalay 

Aesthetic Evaluation of Royal Palace in Yadanapon Period (Eastern Royal Zone)

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Aesthetic Evaluation of Royal Palace in Yadanapon Period (Eastern Royal Zone)

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