Xiyuan Teahouse Iihticteahouse Tlahtlaliliztli Tlachihchiualiztli by Cao Sun

Xiyuan Teahouse Iihticteahouse Tlahtlaliliztli Tlachihchiualiztli by Cao Sun is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl in Callitic Tlacauhtli ihuan Tlanextilizpan Tlachihchihualiztli Competition Category.

IztacteocuitlatlCallitic· 2026

Xiyuan Teahouse Iihticteahouse Tlahtlaliliztli Tlachihchiualiztli

by Cao Sun

Client: Nova Space Design

Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl Winner in Callitic Category

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Verified Award Winner
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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About Xiyuan Teahouse Iihticteahouse Tlahtlaliliztli Tlachihchiualiztli

Xiyuan Teahouse ce teahouse iihtic yeliztli inauac West Lake ipan Hangzhou, China. In 1500 metro cuadrado yeliztli quipia ce tlahcotian tlaahcocuilli tlahco xihuitl-atl tlapechtli, chicuei ihiyocan calten, ce tepoztli coztic mahuiztic tlamamatlatl ica xoxouhqui cuahuitl tlatzacuilli, ihuan ce atl tlachihualiztli mocentlalia ica in tlalnamiquiliztli. Momaquixtilli cuahuitl ixnezcayotl ihuan tlanextli tlapalli tenextli tepamitl motequitiltia nohuian. Tlachihchiuhtli ventana quitlapoa tlachializtli ompa in atezcatl. Ce yahualtic ohtli quinyacana in coanotzaltin yolic ipan in calten. In tlachihchiualiztli occeppa quinemilia in huehcauh Tlauhcopa cualnezcayotl ipampa ce yancuic tecoanotzaliztli yeliztli.

The Recognition

About the Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl

Xiyuan Teahouse Iihticteahouse Tlahtlaliliztli Tlachihchiualiztli ca in quicuic in Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl, hueyi tlamahuizoliztli tlen momaca in huel yectli, tlanextic ihuan mahuiztic tlachihualli. In quicuicah Iztacteocuitlatl ca cenca cualli ihuan cenca yancuic tlachihualli in quinextia in tlamatiliztli, toltecayotl ihuan ixtlamatiliztli intlachihuanime. Ca quinequi in Xiyuan Teahouse Iihticteahouse Tlahtlaliliztli Tlachihchiualiztli ca cenca cualli, cenca motequiuhtia ihuan yancuic. Ni dizayno in quicuic Iztacteocuitlatl quihuelitia in toltecayotl, tlamatiliztli, dizayno ihuan teknolohia. Xiyuan Teahouse Iihticteahouse Tlahtlaliliztli Tlachihchiualiztli quiyolchicahua in tlacah, quipaquiltia ihuan quitlamahuiztiltia.

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.