teahouse | GIZMODO.cz

Shanghai-based studio Neri&Hu, transformed a wooden structure from the era of the Qing dynasty into a teahouse in Fuzhou, China. Clad in copper, the historic building is considered an “urban artifact”, and was built to preserve the traditional architecture and to highlight the fact that modern developments are a threat to them.

Designer: Neri&Hu

“Conceived as an urban artifact and drawing from the historical roots of the city of Fuzhou, the teahouse internalizes a piece of distinct heritage at a time when rapid new development has eroded traditional culture and identity. For this ancient building aspiring to be reborn as a modern tea house, the team adopted architectural strategies that could enhance its new function,” said the studio.

The structure was originally relocated from Jiangnan, and now includes a tea lounge, a bunch of private and public lounges, bars, and event spaces. The interiors feature earth-toned concrete, copper, and plastic. Placed on a rammed-concrete podium, the shelter has been equipped with a copper-clad roof, that instantly draws attention. Once you enter the building, you are welcomed by a circular lobby, followed by offices, a wine, and a tea cellar, which leads to a sunken garden at the back.

The first floor houses a tea lounge, a display area, and a function room. The function room is located opposite a shallow pool of water. The second floor includes a balcony with a seating arrangement, that allows visitors to get a glimpse of the historic structure from above.

“A series of contrasts play out among elements that are bright and dark, light and heavy, coarse and refined, as visitors enter the grand hall where the structure of the ancient residence is situated. Sky wells penetrate the roof, bringing natural light into the depths of the enclosure and illuminating the priceless artifact on display…only upon reading the mezzanine does the structural configuration of the building begin to reveal itself,” said the studio.

The post This beautiful teahouse in China was originally a historic wooden structure first appeared on Yanko Design.

Japanese architect and architectural historian Terunobu Fujimori is known for his quirky teahouses and fondness for unusual city structures. His latest tea house transports an elf’s cottage from the pages of a fairytale to the concrete of Tokyo. Featuring grassy facades, timber treated with yakisugi, and a lofty vista point, the teahouse, called Goan, is sightly positioned in front of the new National Stadium of Tokyo where it remained until 5 September 2021 in celebration of the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Poking out from the corner of one facade, visitors can crawl through a circular hole, traditionally known as a ‘Nijiriguchi,’ to gain entry to the tea room’s interior. Moving inside, visitors pass through the grassy exterior and are welcomed by an entirely unstained wooden first floor. Functioning as a reinterpretation of ‘Nijiriguchi,’ a small wooden staircase and ladder connects the bottom floor with the upper tea room.

Upstairs, visitors can enjoy a cup of tea and a view of the National Stadium designed by Kengo Kuma. From the outside, the upstairs tearoom inside Goan is visually separated from the first floor with a timber exterior constructed from yakisugi treated wood, a traditional Japanese method of wood preservation. The tea room is swaddled in polished natural wooden panels and furniture, giving the room an air of organic warmth.

Standing as one of eight pavilions that are designed to showcase Japan’s future of urban architecture and art, the Goan Teahouse was installed as part of the city’s Pavilion Tokyo 2021 initiative. The initiative coincided with the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where six world-renowned Japanese architects and two artists each designed a one-of-a-kind pavilion for fans of the games and city visitors and residents to enjoy.

Designer: Terunobu Fujimori