Xiyuan Teahouse Teahouse Ukhu Wasi Diseño (Té Upyana Wasi Ukhunpa Diseñon) by Cao Sun

Xiyuan Teahouse Teahouse Ukhu Wasi Diseño (Té Upyana Wasi Ukhunpa Diseñon) by Cao Sun is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Qullqi Premiu in Ukupi Kamay Competition Category.

QullqiUkupi· 2026

Xiyuan Teahouse Teahouse Ukhu Wasi Diseño (Té Upyana Wasi Ukhunpa Diseñon)

by Cao Sun

Client: Nova Space Design

A' Design Award Qullqi Premiu Winner in Ukupi 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 Teahouse Ukhu Wasi Diseño (Té Upyana Wasi Ukhunpa Diseñon)

Xiyuan Teahouse nisqaqa huk té upyana wasi ukhun kachkan, Hangzhou llaqtapi, China suyupi, West Lake qucha patapi tarikuq. Kay 1500 metro cuadrado kancha ukhupiqa kanmi huk huqarisqa chawpi té pata, pusaq sapaq wasikuna, huk bronce escalera escultura hina ruwasqa q'umir k'ullu barandillakunawan churasqa, hinallataq huk unu ruway pachamamawan hukllachasqa. Makiwan ruwasqa k'ullu qarakunawan, k'anchay llimp'iyuq yeso pirqakunawan lliw kanchapi llamk'achisqa kachkan. Sapaqta ruwasqa marco ventanakunaqa quchaman qhawariykunata kicharin. Huk muyuriq puriy ñanmi watukuqkunata allillamanta wasikunanta pusaykachan. Kay diseñoqa ñawpa Inti Lluqsimuy sumaq kayta musuqmanta t'ikrachin, kunan pacha chaskiy wasipaq hina.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Qullqi Premiu

Xiyuan Teahouse Teahouse Ukhu Wasi Diseño (Té Upyana Wasi Ukhunpa Diseñon) A' Design Award Qullqi Premiu mishak kan, ancha jatun yupaychay, kayta hanak, sumak shinallatak mancharina diseñukunaman kun. Qullqi mishak kashkakunaka ancha achikyaska shinallatak ancha mushuk ruraykunami, paykunata rurakkunapak yachayta, yuyayta shinallatak ushayta rikuchinku. Xiyuan Teahouse Teahouse Ukhu Wasi Diseño (Té Upyana Wasi Ukhunpa Diseñon) ruray yachak, ñawpak shinallatak mushuk yuyayta charik sumak rurashka kanata munanku. Kay Qullqi Premiu japishka diseñuka ancha riksishka shinallatak yupaychashka yuyay kan, arti, siensia, diseñu shinallatak tekinolojía ñawpak ñankunata kichuk. Xiyuan Teahouse Teahouse Ukhu Wasi Diseño (Té Upyana Wasi Ukhunpa Diseñon) achka runakunapak munashka rurashka kan, munayta kallarichin, alli yuyaykunata kun shinallatak mancharichin.

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.