Layering Rhythm Igishushanyo cy'Imbere cy'Iduka ry'Icyayi by AAN Architects

Layering Rhythm Igishushanyo cy'Imbere cy'Iduka ry'Icyayi by AAN Architects is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze in Igishushanyo cy'Imbere y'Inyubako Competition Category.

BuronzeImbere y'Inyubako· 2026

Layering Rhythm Igishushanyo cy'Imbere cy'Iduka ry'Icyayi

by AAN Architects

Client: Heytea

Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze Winner in Imbere y'Inyubako Category

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Colors

The Design

About Layering Rhythm Igishushanyo cy'Imbere cy'Iduka ry'Icyayi

Layering Rhythm ni igishushanyo cy'imbere cy'iduka ry'icyayi giherereye i Zhengzhou, mu Bushinwa. Iki gishushanyo cyakuye ibitekerezo ku matongo ya Shang City yo mu karere ndetse n'inkuta zaho zubakishijwe ubutaka bwatsindagiwe. Uruhande rw'imbere y'inyubako rufite uburebure bwa metero 31 kandi rugenda rwisubiza inyuma kugira ngo rugaragaze uburebure butambitse. Imbere, ikirwa gikomeza cya granite itaranozwa gisimbura intebe zitandukanye kikaba ahantu hafunguye ho guhurira, hamurikirwa n'amadirishya yo hejuru y'ubukorano. Irangi rya metali y'umukara ucyeye, ikirahure gifite igicu na stainless steel ifite imiterere y'ubuso bigaragaza itandukaniro n'iryo buye riremereye. Abakiriya batumiza bakoresheje telefoni zigendanwa maze bagategereza ku ruhande rw'icyo kirwa, bityo akanya k'icyayi kagahinduka uburambe bw'umuco busangiwe.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze

Layering Rhythm Igishushanyo cy'Imbere cy'Iduka ry'Icyayi ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze, ishimwe ry'agaciro gakomeye ritangwa ku bishushanyo by'indashyikirwa birangwa no guhanga, ubwenge n'ubushishozi. Abegukanye Buronze ni ibihangano bifite ubuhanga bwinshi kandi bihanga cyane, bishimangira uburambe, ubwenge n'ubushobozi bw'ababihanze. Layering Rhythm Igishushanyo cy'Imbere cy'Iduka ry'Icyayi biteganyijwe ko izaba ikintu cyubahwa, gishimwa kandi gikundwa, gifite ubunyamwuga n'udushya. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye Buronze gikoresha uburyo bwiza mu buhanzi, ubumenyi, ubushushanyo n'ikoranabuhanga kandi kirarenze mu gutaha ku tuntu duto. Layering Rhythm Igishushanyo cy'Imbere cy'Iduka ry'Icyayi ishimisha ibyo dukeneye, ikora ku byifuzo byacu, itwara amarangamutima yacu kandi ikurura amatsiko yacu.

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.