Gold Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2020
Shiding Tea Ceremony Classroom
by Minxuan Xie
- A' Design Award 2020 Gold Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Chuan-Wo
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 20,321
- Verification code 850141CB21 · Verify this award
About Shiding Tea Ceremony Classroom
Shiding Tea Ceremony is a tea art classroom created for a high school in Taipei. The project converts a damp and dark storage room into an open teaching space. Large glass windows and a wooden platform connect the interior with the surrounding landscape, and bamboo is used as the ceiling material. One original tea stove and chimney are kept as a reminder of the past. The glass is thickened and the window frames are reinforced for safety. The space measures 18370 mm in width, 9280 mm in depth and 4430 mm in height. The open layout supports contact between students, visitors and nature.
Within the lineage of contemplative spatial design that bridges traditional ceremonial practice and contemporary architectural expression, XIE MIN XUAN's Shiding Tea Ceremony Classroom emerges as a refined meditation on material authenticity and ritual preparation. The design demonstrates exceptional sensitivity to the phenomenology of the tea ceremony experience, where every formal decision serves the cultivation of mindful awareness and communal gathering. The elevated timber platform functions as both practical response to floor-level seating traditions and symbolic threshold marking the transition from ordinary consciousness to ceremonial presence, its warm honey tones creating an embracing environment that invites participants to settle into stillness. The pendant light fixtures represent a particularly accomplished synthesis of craft heritage and contemporary form, their bamboo slat construction allowing warm illumination to filter through linear intervals while casting delicate shadow patterns that animate surfaces throughout the diurnal cycle. The architect's decision to frame the exterior forest landscape through expansive glazing introduces nature as active participant in the interior experience, seasonal changes and weather variations becoming part of the ceremonial awareness. The material palette demonstrates sophisticated restraint, limiting selections to timber, bamboo, woven grass, stone, and rendered surfaces, each chosen for both sensory qualities and cultural resonance within tea ceremony traditions. One might observe how the geometric regularity of table placement creates a democratic spatial organization where no position claims hierarchy, supporting the egalitarian philosophy embedded in tea ceremony practice. The work invites viewers to consider how architectural space might cultivate particular qualities of attention and presence.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Using large windows to eliminate man-made barriers,perfectly reflecting the spatial ideology of the culture of tea hospitality,creating the openness and connectivity between indoor and outdoor spaces,raising the level of the interaction and communication between people. Making art of tea no longer a class just for learning, it is for the participants to physically and emotionally experience the quietness and completeness brought by the harmonious unity of the tea, the nature and the people.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- width 18370mm X depth 9280mm X height 4430mm
- Tags
- Shiding，Senior High School，Tea Art Classroom，Tea Art，Tea
- Production Technology
- We use a large glass and wooden platform to connect the landscape to the interior space, and use bamboo as a ceiling material to bring natural elements into the space design.
- Design Challenge
- This design case uses the original tea-making experience classroom of the school to carry out planning and transformation.
Shiding high school is located in the wet and rainy halfway up the mountain. The building has been in such an environment for a long time and has been seriously repaired with serious wall cancer problems and water leakage.
Also, because of the damage of tea-making equipment, the frequency of classes is reduced, and it is a wet and dark storage room.
We reorganized the built environment and kept one of the tea stoves and chimneys as memories of the past.
Taiwan’s past was deeply influenced by the culture of Japanese rule, and the tea ceremony brought in exquisite and rigorous tea spirit at that time.
Taiwanese tea art retains the important elements of Taiwanese tea art and advocates the attitude of life and nature.
Therefore, we use wood materials to reflect the flavor of Japanese style and make a fusion with Taiwanese tea.
Let the rigor and focus of the Japanese-style tea ceremony be reflected in the space, and the wooden structure also makes the original wet and cold space warmer.
The natural mellowness of Taiwanese tea is filled with the fragrance of the entire space to the natural environment outside.
It symbolizes the Zen and life attitude of Taiwanese tea art.
The school plans to open a large area of floor-to-ceiling windows, and the school has security concerns.
Worried that such a design would be invaded or destroyed by a person with a heart or a broken glass caused by a typhoon.
Therefore, in addition to increasing the thickness of the glass, and strengthening the structure of the window frame,
The design is made and safe. - Project Duration
- The project began in Taipei in October 2018, was completed in Taipei in April 2019, and was exhibited in Taipei in June 2019.
- Operation Flow
- Make the originally enclosed space open, visually, this creates a feeling of openness and connectivity between indoor and outdoor spaces.
- Research
- Shiding High School is located in the mountainside campus in the rainy area. The surrounding characteristic industry of this school is the tea industry. The school hopes that the designer can connect the idle space with the characteristic industries around the school, and the designer cuts into the space design from the perspective of humanity. Concept, many people in the former Taiwanese society will put a pot of tea at their doorstep, so that passers-by can ease the hardships on the road, but as the society progresses, people's requirements for safety and health are gradually improved. Such behavior is now invisible. At the same time, people's distrust is also rising. The school also builds a high wall for students' safety to teach students knowledge. The designer's challenge is how to use space changes to restore trust between people. The teacher removed the high walls of the campus, allowing the students' vision to extend outwards, establishing a connection between the human and the natural environment, while the people who went up the mountain extended their steps outdoors for a while, and the students served a cup of tea. The fatigue of the passengers also allows the students to find the feelings of the people in the process of offering tea, sincerely caring for others, or This is just a simple thing, but it will gradually ferment in the minds of students, affecting their thinking and life. The opening of large-scale external windows, in addition to the sense of influence, also increases natural lighting to make the overall indoor environment no longer bleak.
- Inspiration
- In early Taiwan society, The culture of tea serving, which relieved the hardship of passersby in the past, reflects a spirit of giving and a virtuous character of the host.Today tea is an art, but the most important spirit of it is not preserved. creating the openness and connectivity between indoor and outdoor spaces,which closes the distance between people and removes the barrier of trust.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Creator XIE MIN XUAN, SHIDING HIGH SCHOOL Tea ceremony classroom, 2019.
Image #2: Creator XIE MIN XUAN, SHIDING HIGH SCHOOL Tea ceremony classroom, 2019.
Image #3: Creator XIE MIN XUAN, SHIDING HIGH SCHOOL Tea ceremony classroom, 2019.
Image #4: Creator XIE MIN XUAN, SHIDING HIGH SCHOOL Tea ceremony classroom, 2019.
Image #5: Creator XIE MIN XUAN, SHIDING HIGH SCHOOL Tea ceremony classroom, 2019.
Colors of Shiding Tea Ceremony Classroom
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G0E23 ShopGrand Interview about Shiding Tea Ceremony Classroom
I have always believed that architecture should not be a rigid, impenetrable shell that severs humans from nature, but rather a transitional medium. In the design of the Shiting Teahouse Classroom, I broke free from the constraints of traditional enclosed walls, incorporating the classic concepts of "borrowed scenery" and "framed views." Through expansive, transparent openings and deliberate spatial routing, the changing light, wind, and greenery of the four seasons are organically drawn indoors. When tea practitioners take their seats, the boundaries of the space gently dissolve, allowing indoor tranquility and outdoor nature to coexist in harmony. This interplay of the tangible and intangible not only expands the visual scale of the space but also shatters physical barriers, allowing users to experience the Zen concept of "unity between humanity and nature" amidst the fluid dynamics of light and airflow.
This project is a cultural dialogue between "ritual" and "comfort." Japanese tea ceremony emphasizes Wa, Kei, Sei, Jaku (Harmony, Respect, Purity, and Tranquility). We strictly adhered to the spatial proportions, tatami layout, and kneeling (seiza) dynamics of traditional Japanese tearooms to preserve that grounding, solemn sense of ritual. Conversely, Taiwanese tea culture emphasizes sharing, hospitality, and a more relaxed, lifestyle-oriented approach. To reflect this, we infused warmth, approachability, and flexibility into the material palette and the reception area. By seamlessly juxtaposing these two design languages, we allowed the rigorous Japanese structure to form the backbone, while the warm, spontaneous soul of Taiwanese tea culture breathes life into it. This modern transformation creates a perfect, harmonious balance where dynamism and stillness coexist.
When dealing with a derelict, structurally aging storage space, the core of the transformation lies in treating the root cause. Before pursuing aesthetic expression, we dedicated substantial effort to a comprehensive structural checkup and reinforcement. To combat severe water leakage and deteriorating walls, we implemented systematic waterproofing methods and structural reinforcement to guarantee long-term durability and indoor comfort. This was a process of turning the obsolete into the extraordinary. We deliberately preserved parts of the original aged textures to give the space historical narrative. Once the persistent dampness and darkness were completely resolved, the raw honesty of the structure became the perfect foundation for fostering serenity. Through meticulous lighting design and invisible structural engineering, we successfully transformed an abandoned, forgotten space into a peaceful sanctuary that quietens the mind.
The inspiration for these materials stems directly from the natural essence of "tea" itself and the holistic sensory experience we aimed to deliver. Since tea originates in the mountain forests, we selected bamboo and wood—two natural materials with organic warmth—as the primary protagonists of the space. The woven texture of the bamboo ceiling is inspired by traditional tea utensils and craftsmanship; it not only enriches the visual depth of the ceiling but also casts dappled shadows under lighting, evoking the poetic ambiance of enjoying tea beneath a bamboo grove. Meanwhile, the extensive use of warm timber elements soothes urban restlessness through sight, touch, and scent. These breathing materials gently develop a rich patina over time, enriching the sensory layers of the environment and blending with the aroma of the tea to make the ceremony an immersive journey of natural healing.
In a school environment, safety is a non-negotiable baseline, but it does not have to come at the expense of visual transparency and architectural aesthetics. Facing the school's initial concerns regarding the large windows, we rejected the idea of installing restrictive iron grilles or reducing the window size. Instead, we balanced openness and security through "invisible protection" and "material upgrades." Structurally, we utilized high-strength, double-glazed safety glass coupled with precision window limiters to control the opening angle. This maintains cross-ventilation while eliminating the risk of falls or injuries. Externally, we integrated landscape planting and soft barriers to subtly guide movement, creating a natural safety buffer zone. Consequently, the large windows retain their openness—inviting campus greenery and sunlight indoors—while establishing a robust safety defense line, allowing teachers and students to experience the space with complete peace of mind.
Traditional classrooms are often static spaces designed for one-way information transmission, characterized by rows of desks and rigid podiums that reduce culture to flat textbook knowledge. Transforming this environment into an "experiential space" means expanding learning from mere sight and sound to a full-body sensory experience. As students step into the classroom, remove their shoes, and walk onto the warm timber floors, the shift in their physical posture and movement instantly establishes a sense of ritual. The distance created by a traditional lecture stage is replaced by the intimacy of gathering around a tea hearth. The woven bamboo light shadows, the curling tea aroma, and the tactile natural materials create a deeply immersive atmosphere. This profound spatial shift ensures that students are no longer passive onlookers of tea culture, but active participants and practitioners, learning intuitively to slow down and embrace the inner peace and etiquette of the tea ceremony.
The inspiration for this teahouse classroom is deeply rooted in the "Feng Cha" (free tea offering) culture of early agricultural Taiwanese society. It was a heartwarming custom where locals placed large jars of herbal tea by the roadside to selflessly welcome and refresh weary strangers. This tradition embodies the core values of pure kindness and hospitality in Taiwanese culture. In our design, we specifically emphasized this spirit of hospitality. We designed a highly inclusive welcoming tea area at the entrance, dismantling barriers of hierarchy and identity. The color tones and materials are intentionally chosen for their soft, warm qualities, and the lighting is gentle, resembling a safe pavilion welcoming travelers out of a storm. We want this space to communicate to students and visitors alike: no matter how exhausted you are by academics or daily life, once you step inside and receive a warm cup of tea, you are fully respected and comforted. This is a contemporary and heartfelt tribute to Taiwan's traditional virtue of "Feng Cha."
Indeed, the inclusion of natural elements is never merely decorative; it is the spatial manifestation of "mindfulness" and the "unity of humanity and nature" central to tea philosophy. The tea ceremony teaches us to be aware of the present moment, and nature is the ultimate teacher. We deliberately allowed materials like bamboo, wood, and stone to retain their near-primitive textures, encouraging occupants to observe the shifting seasons and the passage of light through the windows. As the wind rustles the bamboo blinds and light traces long shadows across the wooden walls over the course of the day, these subtle environmental shifts remind tea practitioners of Ichigo Ichie (one time, one meeting)—the fleeting nature of time. The natural elements act as a catalyst for centering the mind. They gently guide individuals to cast aside external noise and refocus their awareness inward onto the tea liquor, their own breath, and genuine human connection, beautifully supporting the meditative and spiritual dimensions of the ceremony within a physical framework.
The success of this teahouse classroom proves one vital point: cultural transmission does not need to be rigid or didactic; it can regain immense charisma and contemporary vitality through modern spatial design. I believe that future cultural educational spaces will evolve toward hybridity and experiential priority. This classroom offers a clear paradigm. We do not need to build a historical replica to promote heritage. Instead, we must extract the spiritual core of a cultural tradition and translate it using contemporary architectural vocabularies and engineering technologies. Future educational spaces should be highly flexible and sensorially inclusive, ensuring that cultural heritage is no longer a static antique locked inside a museum showcase, but a living, breathing field that resonates with students' daily lives and modern design sensibilities.
The physical layout of a space directly dictates the emotional dynamics between its users. In traditional classrooms, people stare at the backs of each other's heads; however, in the Shiting Teahouse Classroom, we adopted a centripetal, barrier-free circular layout. A concrete example of this is our open-concept tea seating paired with low floor elevations. When external visitors or students from different grades enter this space, everyone sits at the same physical height (either seated directly on the floor or on low seating), bringing them to an equal eye level. This lowering of physical stance naturally diffuses psychological defensiveness. Furthermore, due to the serene and transparent quality of the room, people intuitively lower their speaking volume and listen more attentively, cultivating high-quality eye contact and deep conversation. The host-guest unity fundamental to the tea ceremony is amplified within this boundaryless layout, enabling previously unacquainted students and visitors to rapidly build profound communal connections and trust through the silent rituals of pouring, receiving, and sharing tea.