Zen and Tea Chamber

The Beijing-based architect He Wei designed a Zen and Tea Chamber, renewing an old factory and conveying the essence of the Chinese private gardens.

Designed by He Wei, Zen and Tea Chamber is a renovation project of an old factory. The building experienced several renovations after its construction in the 70s.

Unlike other factories with large space, it doesn’t have a big space span while the height is normal showing no special features. However, a 100 sqm backyard is quite impressive. Based on the owner’s requirement, designers need to reconstruct it into a Zen Chamber.

The core of the design is restructuring the circulation of the space. Designers gave up the simple layout of the existing circulation space with hanging stairs directly attached to its entrance. The design creates a longer circulation for people to calm down when entering the main space in the philosophy of Zen Tea. An extra-long, zigzag path is made: people can enter the building from the west side after passing through a long and narrow semi-outdoor corridor. They will enter the backyard after turning to the north and walking through the entire Zen Chamber.

Architect added a folded stairs in this area, located between the long ramp and paralleled stairs. People will see the inner courtyard and a big tearoom through the grating racks while stepping up the stairs. Then they can reach the second floor through a long, narrow, and closed space. The second floor is served as the main public space of the building, including a guqin (a representative instrument of traditional Chinese musical culture) room, small tearooms, meditation room and a large tearoom.

The changing rhythm of the brightness is another key of renovation. Around the inner court, the newly created space changes its appearance between the natural light and the artificial light arranging the transparent, semi-transparent and close-up visual effects. After entering the building, people could enjoy the courtyard in different time and different perspectives, and vice versa, which is also a practice of sampling the Chinese garden.

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He Wei, Zen and Tea Chamber, the entrance hall of the second floor and gathering space (right)

He Wei, Zen and Tea Chamber, Beijing, 2016

He Wei, Zen and Tea Chamber, Beijing, 2016

He Wei, Zen and Tea Chamber, ground floor

He Wei, Zen and Tea Chamber, first floor

He Wei, Zen and Tea Chamber, second floor

He Wei, Zen and Tea Chamber, perspective section east-west

He Wei, Zen and Tea Chamber, perspective section north-south

He Wei, Zen and Tea Chamber, axonometric view

He Wei, Zen and Tea Chamber, circulation

Ding Hui Yuan Zen & Tea Chamber, Beijing
Architect: He Wei
Client: Better Lift Art Club Co., Ltd
Design team: Chen Long, Wang Qi, Zhao Zhuo-Ran
Lighting: Zhang Xin, Han Xiao-Wei, Zhou Xuan-Yu
Contractor: Beijing GHLH Construction CO., LTD
Area: 450 sqm
Completion: 2016

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