Layering Rhythm Desain Interior Toko Téh by AAN Architects

Layering Rhythm Desain Interior Toko Téh by AAN Architects is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Perunggu in Interior Competition Category.

PerungguInterior· 2026

Layering Rhythm Desain Interior Toko Téh

by AAN Architects

Client: Heytea

A' Design Award Perunggu Winner in Interior Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #182033

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Layering Rhythm Desain Interior Toko Téh

Layering Rhythm nyaéta interior toko téh anu perenahna di Zhengzhou, Cina. Desainna nyokot inspirasi tina situs karuhun Kota Shang di dinya jeung témbok taneuh padetna (rammed earth). Fasadna panjangna 31 méter sarta nyurup ka jero pikeun nandeskeun jerona horizontal. Di jerona, hiji pulo panjang anu nyambung tina batu granit atah ngagantikeun korsi-korsi anu misah sarta ngawangun rohangan sosial anu muka, dicaangan ku lampu langit-langit jieunan (skylight artifisial). Cet logam kulawu ngora, kaca buram, jeung baja tahan karat anu bertékstur kontras jeung batu anu beurat téa. Sémah mesen ngaliwatan hénpon terus ngadagoan sapanjang pulo éta, nepi ka waktu reureuh bari ngeteh jadi pangalaman budaya anu babarengan.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Perunggu

Layering Rhythm Desain Interior Toko Téh mangrupa juara A' Design Award Perunggu, pangakuan anu pohara bergengsi anu dipasihkeun ka desain unggul anu dicirikeun ku kréativitas, kacerdikan jeung kawaspadaan. Para juara Perunggu téh artéfak anu lobaan kaahlian jeung kréatif pisan anu ngabuktikeun pangalaman anu lega, imajinasi jeung kacerdasan para désainerna. Layering Rhythm Desain Interior Toko Téh diharepkeun jadi objék anu dihargaan, dikagumi jeung dipikanyaah anu profésional jeung inovatif. Desain juara A' Design Award Perunggu ieu ngalebetkeun prakték pangalusna dina seni, élmu, desain jeung téknologi, sarta unggul dina perhatian kana détail. Layering Rhythm Desain Interior Toko Téh minuhan kabutuhan kalayan éndah, nyentuh kahayang, nyenangkeun rasa, jeung narik rasa panasaran.

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.