Reclaiming the Urban Public Realm Through Participatory Design

Across Yangon’s dense urban fabric, rapid densification and neglected infrastructure have historically converted vital alleyways and commons into inaccessible waste sites. Doh Eain’s flagship placemaking initiative counters this spatial deficit through an asset-based, participatory framework that reclaims underutilised land for public life. Anchored by the 5-D methodology (Discover, Define, Develop, Deliver, Deepen), interventions are co-designed directly with local residents via surveys, participatory design workshops, and community-led builds. Spatial upgrades integrate circular economic principles, combining durable upcycled materials and plastic waste conversion with natural composting systems and climate-responsive landscaping. Projects are tailored to diverse civic needs—ranging from protected, child-friendly play spaces and women-led communal zones to active pedestrian corridors. The initiative builds grassroots stewardship, increases local climate resilience, and establishes a proven urban design model for transitioning informal neglected spaces into enduring community assets.