Layering Rhythm Deseño de Interiores de Tenda de Té by AAN Architects

Layering Rhythm Deseño de Interiores de Tenda de Té by AAN Architects is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award de Bronce in Deseño de Espazos Interiores e de Exposición Competition Category.

BronceInteriorismo· 2026

Layering Rhythm Deseño de Interiores de Tenda de Té

by AAN Architects

Client: Heytea

A' Design Award de Bronce Winner in Interiorismo Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Layering Rhythm Deseño de Interiores de Tenda de Té

Layering Rhythm é o interior dunha tenda de té situada en Zhengzhou, China. O deseño inspírase nas ruínas locais da cidade Shang e nos seus muros de terra apisoada. A fachada ten 31 metros de lonxitude e retrocede para enfatizar a profundidade horizontal. No interior, unha illa continua de granito bruto substitúe os asentos separados e forma un espazo social aberto iluminado por lucernarios artificiais. A laca metálica gris clara, o vidro esmerilado e o aceiro inoxidable texturizado contrastan coa pedra pesada. Os clientes fan o pedido a través do teléfono móbil e agardan ao longo da illa, de xeito que a pausa para o té convértese nunha experiencia cultural compartida.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Bronce

Layering Rhythm Deseño de Interiores de Tenda de Té gañou o A' Design Award de Bronce, un recoñecemento altamente prestixioso outorgado a deseños sobresaíntes que se distinguen pola creatividade, o enxeño e a sagacidade. Os gañadores Bronce son artefactos amplamente hábiles e sorprendentemente creativos que autentican a vasta experiencia, imaxinación e enxeño dos seus deseñadores. Espérase que Layering Rhythm Deseño de Interiores de Tenda de Té sexa un obxecto moi apreciado, admirado e querido, notablemente profesional e innovador. Este deseño gañador do A' Design Award de Bronce incorpora as mellores prácticas da arte, a ciencia, o deseño e a tecnoloxía, e é excelente pola súa atención ao detalle. Layering Rhythm Deseño de Interiores de Tenda de Té satisfai espléndidamente as necesidades, toca os desexos, encanta os sentimentos e atrae a curiosidade.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Inspired by Zhengzhou's Shang City ruins, "Layering Rhythm" reimagines retail as a cultural social hub. Its 31m facade recedes, emphasizing horizontal depth and drawing eyes inward. Inside, a massive handmade brick island replaces traditional independent seating, forming a boundless social space layered by artificial skylights. Contrasting metal with stone, and heavy niches with clear glass, this tea shop environment elegantly honors cultural heritage to form a new spacial experience.
Dimensions & Packaging: The floor plan of this store is an irregular shape, featuring a long, cornered arc-shaped facade and an internal zigzag-shaped irregular boundary. The facade interface is 31 meters long, the maximum depth of the store is 6 meters, and the height of the facade is 3.7 meters.
Tags: Layering Rhythm, Social Hub, Zhengzhou, Ancient Rammed-earth City Walls, Heavy Raw Granite, Sculptural Island, Zen Aesthetics, Material Juxtaposition, Tea Shop
Production Technology: To merge contemporary design with heritage, the palette contrasts heavy raw granite with sleek light-grey metal lacquer and textured stainless steel. Translucent frosted glass and beige Rofei rock paint add layers, while a diamond sand floor grounds the space. The island's quarry-sourced raw stone serves as a focal point, its natural uneven surface juxtaposed against smooth slabs and polished steel plates, highlighting the brand's authentic craftsmanship and sophisticated processing.
Design Challenge: Challenges were twofold. Conceptually, we iterated designs to translate Shang City culture into modern language, balancing historical weight with 'Tea & Zen' lightness. Executing 'authenticity' was tough. We personally quarried massive granite for the island, refining it on-site. For seating, we rejected standard grooved slabs, insisting on hand-chiseled stone slices. After numerous mock-ups, craftsmen installed each piece individually to achieve the natural 'Layering Rhythm'.
Research: To honor Central Plains heritage, we studied architectural typologies like eaves and city walls. This led to concepts including "Eaves Shadow" and "Urban Rift." Through rigorous modeling, material testing, and client dialogue, we finalized the "Layering Rhythm" design. By layering historical textures with modern materials, we achieved a perfect balance between past and present, abstraction and reality, aligning the brand with the site's unique spirit.
Inspiration: Deeply inspired by Zhengzhou's 3,600-year-old Shang City ruins, the design translates ancient rammed-earth textures into the modern "Layering Rhythm" concept. Continuous island seating evoking city walls juxtaposes light metal fixtures referencing local bronze artifacts. Contrasting heavy stone with delicate forms, this spatial dialogue bridges past and present, embodying tea culture's unique value as a social medium.
Project Duration: The design period is from December 2024 to March 2025, the construction period is from April to May 2025, and the store is scheduled to open in June 2025. This tea shop located in Xintian 360 Plaza in Zhengzhou, China.
Operation Flow: Entering the tea shop, customers find their preferred spot along the continuous island seating to order via mobile and await their drinks. This boundless arrangement encourages open, borderless socializing. As guests enjoy their tea, they can touch the contrasting materials, awakening memories of Central Plains heritage. This transforms a routine tea break into an immersive cultural and social journey.
Patents: Copyrights belong to AAN Architects, 2025.
Team Members: Yinghua Wen
Junjie Yan
Yuxing Yi
Hongzhi Wang
Suya Huang
Jingtao Li
Image Credits: Photo credit all belongs to Heytea, 2025.