Xiyuan Teahouse Moralo wa Kahare wa Ntlo ya Tee by Cao Sun is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award in Moralo wa Sebaka sa Ka Hare le Dipontsho Competition Category.
SileveraKa Hare· 2026
Xiyuan Teahouse Moralo wa Kahare wa Ntlo ya Tee
by Cao Sun
Client: Nova Space Design
Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award Winner in Ka Hare Category
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- Verified Award Winner
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The Design
About Xiyuan Teahouse Moralo wa Kahare wa Ntlo ya Tee
Xiyuan Teahouse ke moralo wa kahare wa ntlo ya tee e fumanehang haufi le Letsha la Bophirimela (West Lake) Hangzhou, China. Sebaka sa limithara tse sekwere tse 1500 se kenyelletsa sethala se phahamisitsweng sa tee se bohareng, dikamore tsa lekunutu tse robedi, ditepisi tsa boronse tse betlilweng ka bokgabane tse nang le mabota a matsoho a kentsweng patsi e tala, le sebopeho sa metsi se kopantsweng le tikoloho ya naha. Dikoahelo tsa patsi tse entsweng ka matsoho le mabota a polastara a mebala e bobebe a sebedisitswe hohle. Difensetere tse nang le diforeimi tse etseditsweng ka ho ikgetha di bula ditjhebo tse lebisang letsheng. Tsela ya ho potoloha e tataisa baeti butle ho pholletsa le dikamore. Moralo ona o hlalosa botjha botle ba setso ba Botjhabela bakeng sa sebaka sa kamohelo ya baeti sa sejwale-jwale.
The Recognition
About the Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award
Xiyuan Teahouse Moralo wa Kahare wa Ntlo ya Tee ke mohapi oa Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award, kananelo e hlomphehang haholo e fuoang meralo e phahameng ka ho fetesisa, e ntle le e tsosang maikutlo. Bahapi ba Silevera ke mesebetsi e khanyang haholo le e nang le boqapi bo ikhethang e bontšang botsebi, talenta le bohlale ba baqapi ba eona. Xiyuan Teahouse Moralo wa Kahare wa Ntlo ya Tee e lebelletsoe ho ba mosebetsi o motle, oa mohlala, o nang le boprofeshenale bo bonahalang le mehopolo e mecha e tebileng. Moralo ona o hapileng Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award ke mohopolo o hlokomelehang haholo le o ratoang o tlisang molemo mme o sutumelletsang meeli ea bonono, mahlale, moralo le theknoloji. Xiyuan Teahouse Moralo wa Kahare wa Ntlo ya Tee ke mosebetsi oo batho ba bangata ba o lakatsang, o tsosang litakatso, o tlisang maikutlo a matle le o tsosetsang ho makala le ho hlolla.
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.
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