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Xiyuan Teahouse Diseño Interior de Casa de Té by Cao Sun

Xiyuan Teahouse Diseño Interior de Casa de Té by Cao Sun is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award de Plata in Diseño de Espacios Interiores y Exposiciones Competition Category.


PlataInterior· 2026

Xiyuan Teahouse Diseño Interior de Casa de Té

by Cao Sun

Client: Nova Space Design

A' Design Award de Plata Winner in Interior Category

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The Design

About Xiyuan Teahouse Diseño Interior de Casa de Té

La Casa de Té Xiyuan es un interior de casa de té situado junto al Lago del Oeste en Hangzhou, China. El espacio de 1500 metros cuadrados incluye una plataforma central de té elevada, ocho salas privadas, una escalera escultórica de bronce con barandillas con incrustaciones de madera verde y un elemento acuático integrado con el paisaje. Se emplean en todo el proyecto chapas de madera artesanales y muros de yeso en tonos claros. Ventanas con marcos a medida abren vistas hacia el lago. Un recorrido de circulación en bucle guía a los huéspedes lentamente a través de las salas. El diseño reinterpreta la estética tradicional oriental para un entorno hostelero contemporáneo.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Plata

Xiyuan Teahouse Diseño Interior de Casa de Té ha ganado el A' Design Award de Plata, un reconocimiento extraordinariamente prestigioso concedido a diseños de gama alta, magníficos e impresionantes. Los ganadores de Plata son obras tremendamente brillantes y sumamente creativas que ilustran la destacada experiencia, el talento y la agudeza de sus diseñadores. Se espera que Xiyuan Teahouse Diseño Interior de Casa de Té sea una obra maravillosa y emblemática, notablemente profesional y profundamente innovadora. Este diseño ganador del A' Design Award de Plata es una invención muy notable y admirada que beneficia y hace avanzar las fronteras del arte, la ciencia, el diseño y la tecnología. Xiyuan Teahouse Diseño Interior de Casa de Té es una creación enormemente envidiada que evoca deseos, aporta sentimientos positivos y despierta asombro y admiración.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
This project reinterprets Oriental aesthetics through modern spatial language, blending symbolic elements, nature inspired materials, and layered spatial planning. Located by West Lake, it integrates landscape, function, and narrative to provide guests with a serene, immersive cultural experience. Its sculptural staircase, window-framed views, and poetic detailing create a unique sense of ritual and emotional resonance.
Dimensions & Packaging
Total built area: 1500 square meters. Key spatial components include an elevated central tea platform, eight distinctive private rooms, a sculptural bronze staircase, and a landscape integrated water feature. Window systems are custom framed to optimize views and natural lighting. Materials are chosen to enhance symbolic and sensory experience.
Tags
Oriental Aesthetics, West Lake, Tea Culture, Immersive Space, Cultural Memory, Landscape Integration, Bronze Staircase, Handcrafted Materials, Poetic Space, Spiritual Retreat
Production Technology
The teahouse features handcrafted wood veneers, bronze clad spiral stairs with inlaid greenwood railings, artisanal light toned plaster walls, and custom crystal acrylic tea sculptures. Spatial planning follows a loop circulation strategy, optimizing lake views and operational efficiency while reinforcing the natural and cultural dialogue of the interior.
Design Challenge
The core challenge lay in reinterpreting traditional Eastern aesthetics in a modern hospitality context without resorting to pastiche. Balancing symbolic depth with operational needs, integrating natural and built landscapes, and addressing tourist engagement within a historically significant setting required careful design logic and cultural sensitivity.
Research
Design research began with site analysis and historical study of Wang Yutai Tea House and literati traditions. Methodology included archival review, interviews, and spatial simulations. Participants included hotel operators, historians, and tea masters. Insights informed symbolic design, spatial zoning, and sensory elements. Results strengthened cultural resonance and guest engagement.
Inspiration
The design was inspired by the century old heritage of the Wang Yutai Tea House and the refined literati lifestyle of West Lake's past. From the "West Lake Moon Gatherings" to the tranquil tea rituals, the project revives cultural memories through spatial storytelling, aiming to reconnect modern life with traditional Eastern ideals of beauty, balance, and contemplation.
Project Duration
The project started in January 2024 in Hangzhou, China and finished in October 2024.
Operation Flow
The design encourages slow paced, reflective engagement. Visitors enter through a symbolic gateway and follow a circular path that reveals lake views, private rooms, and shared tea platforms. Seating and height variations allow layered interaction with the scenery. The flow fosters both intimacy and openness, enhancing spiritual and sensory experiences.
Image Credits
Image #1: Photographer Zhang jianing, Xiyuan Teahouse, 2024.
Image #1: Photographer Zhang jianing, Xiyuan Teahouse, 2024.
Image #1: Photographer Zhang jianing, Xiyuan Teahouse, 2024.
Image #1: Photographer Zhang jianing, Xiyuan Teahouse, 2024.
Image #1: Photographer Zhang jianing, Xiyuan Teahouse, 2024.

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