Xiyuan Teahouse Te Hoahoa Rōpū o Roto mō te Whare Tī by Cao Sun

Xiyuan Teahouse Te Hoahoa Rōpū o Roto mō te Whare Tī by Cao Sun is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Hiriwa in Hoahoa Roto Whare me te Whakaaturanga Competition Category.

HiriwaRoto Whare· 2026

Xiyuan Teahouse Te Hoahoa Rōpū o Roto mō te Whare Tī

by Cao Sun

Client: Nova Space Design

A' Design Award Hiriwa Winner in Roto Whare Category

19,714

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #174659

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Xiyuan Teahouse Te Hoahoa Rōpū o Roto mō te Whare Tī

Ko Xiyuan Teahouse he wāhi whare tī kei te taha o te Roto o West Lake i Hangzhou, Haina. Kei roto i te wāhi 1500 mita pūrua he papa tī matua kua whakateiteitia, e waru ngā rūma motuhake, he arawhata parahi whakairo me ngā kaiwhakawhirinaki rākau kākāriki kua whakauruhia, me tētahi āhuatanga wai kua whakakotahihia ki te taiao. Kua whakamahia ngā papa rākau i hangaia ā-ringa me ngā pakitara raima tae māmā puta noa. Ka tuwhera ngā matapihi anga motuhake ki ngā tirohanga o te roto. Mā tētahi ara hikoi porowhita e ārahi ngātahi ai ngā manuhiri puta noa i ngā rūma. Ka whakamāori anō te hoahoa i ngā tikanga ātaahua tuku iho o te Rāwhiti mō tētahi horopaki manaakitanga hou.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Hiriwa

Ko Xiyuan Teahouse Te Hoahoa Rōpū o Roto mō te Whare Tī te toa o te A' Design Award Hiriwa, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa taumata teitei rawa, ātaahua me te whakamīharo. Ko ngā toa Hiriwa he mahi tino kanapa, tino auaha e whakaatu ana i te mātanga, te pūmanawa me te mōhio hōhonu o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Xiyuan Teahouse Te Hoahoa Rōpū o Roto mō te Whare Tī he mahi whakamīharo, he tauira, he tino ngaio, he auaha hōhonu. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Hiriwa he hanganga rongonui, whakamīharotia e whai wāhi ana ki te whakawhānui i ngā rohe o te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau. Ko Xiyuan Teahouse Te Hoahoa Rōpū o Roto mō te Whare Tī he mahi e hae ana te tini, e whakaara ana i ngā hiahia, e kawe mai ana i ngā kare-ā-roto pai, ā, e whakaoho ana i te mīharo.

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.