ZERO-EDGE POOL at the strand hotel myanmar
A Silent Dialogue Between Heritage and Innovation
Nestled within the private courtyard of Yangon’s legendary Strand Hotel, this zero-edge pool emerges as a contemplative sanctuary where colonial grandeur meets contemporary serenity. Set against weathered teak columns and heritage brickwork, the 18-metre expanse of water becomes a liquid bridge between past and present.
The pool’s perfectly level surface captures Myanmar’s ever-changing sky, transforming from monsoon grey to golden sunset reflections. Its perimeter overflow design follows the geometric precision of the colonial architecture, yet dissolves into the horizon — a ribbon of water suspended between heritage walls and tropical canopy.
This zero-edge pool forms part of the hotel’s ambitious renovation, entirely integrated into its colonial-era setting.
A dialogue between tradition and precision engineering
Respect for heritage dictated every choice, from structure to finishing details. The coping and perimeter overflow system were executed using traditional Myanmar teak detailing, laid according to colonial-era joinery methods — the same techniques used for the hotel’s original verandas across the property.
This approach echoes the understated elegance of the Strand while ensuring perfect hydraulic alignment. The same materials were used throughout the courtyard renovation, creating a continuous visual language that seamlessly integrates the pool into its historic context.
The interior finish was chosen for its ability to reflect sky and architecture like a perfect mirror, while mechanical systems remain invisible — integrated behind heritage screens or hidden beneath teak decking.
Monsoon Engineering, International Expertise
The Yangon site presented a complex engineering matrix: flat plain topography with high water table saturation, dense urban environment with adjacent structures of uncertain foundation stability, and continuous groundwater infiltration requiring 24/7 dewatering operations.
Modular filtration strategy
Our core expertise focused on pool hydraulic engineering: designing a triple-pump filtration system with three 25m³/hour units rather than a single 80m³/hour installation. This modular approach offered superior operational flexibility – one pump can be shut down during Myanmar’s cooler months for energy savings, while redundancy ensures uninterrupted operation during peak season. The distributed filtration strategy also reduced infrastructure costs significantly: smaller diameter piping, standard valve specifications, and simplified manifold design compared to high-capacity single-pump systems.
We developed comprehensive technical plans and collaborated with a local pool contractor who executed the installation under our direct supervision.
International Expertise, Local Execution
As international consultants, we provided on-site supervision throughout the 16-week installation phase, working closely with the Bangkok-based architectural firm responsible for the overall project and pool design, alongside local structural engineers. Our hands-on presence proved essential for achieving the precision perimeter overflow system with ±1mm tolerance required for the perfect mirror effect. This direct approach enabled real-time problem-solving and quality control in a challenging environment where local contractors required technical guidance on European filtration standards and precision installation techniques.
Water as meditation, not decoration
The pool was designed not to dominate, but to enhance — a silent anchor to the surrounding colonial elements. The zero-edge creates perfect continuity between architecture and sky, offering uninterrupted reflections and capturing Myanmar’s dramatic seasonal light changes.
Along the heritage colonnade, a submerged meditation ledge transforms viewing into experiencing. During cool morning hours, guests can contemplate while facing the historic buildings, immersed in both water and architectural heritage.
More than a luxury amenity, this is a space to be experienced — to swim, to pause, to let Myanmar’s unique light and colonial atmosphere work their quiet magic. Not decorative, not merely technical, but essential to the hotel’s renewed sense of place.
Learn more about our international consulting services for bespoke heritage hotel projects in Southeast Asia.
