Conceived as an urban artefact and drawing from the historical roots of the city of Fuzhou, the Relic Shelter internalises a piece of distinct heritage at a time when rapid new development has eroded traditional culture and identity.The client’s brief to Neri&Hu posed the unique challenge of creating an enclosure for a Chinese artefact – the wooden structure of a high-ranking Qing dynasty official’s residence, replete with ornamental carvings and intricate joinery. Relocated from Anhui to its new home in Fuzhou, the Hui-style structure is enshrined as the inhabitable centrepiece of a new teahouse.Neri&Hu envisioned the teahouse as a house atop a rock, elevated above a rammed concrete base, while its sweeping copper roof echoes the roofline of the enclosed architectural relic. Its core material, rammed concrete, is a modern homage to the traditional earthen dwellings of the region, emphasizing a raw monumentality.Visitors are presented with two images of the building upon approach: the upright silhouette of the form, and its mirrored reflection duplicated in the surrounding pool of water. Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Photo Hao Chen Yellowtrace 01 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Photo Hao Chen Yellowtrace 02 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Photo Hao Chen Yellowtrace 03 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Photo Hao Chen Yellowtrace 04 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Photo Hao Chen Yellowtrace 05 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Photo Hao Chen Yellowtrace 06 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Photo Hao Chen Yellowtrace 07 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Photo Hao Chen Yellowtrace 08 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Photo Hao Chen Yellowtrace 09 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Photo Hao Chen Yellowtrace 10 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Photo Hao Chen Yellowtrace 11 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Photo Hao Chen Yellowtrace 12 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Photo Hao Chen Yellowtrace 13 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Sketches By Lyndon Neri Yellowtrace 14 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Floorplan B1 Yellowtrace 15 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Floorplan L1 Yellowtrace 16 Neri And Hu Fuzhou Teahouse Floorplan L2 Yellowtrace 17 A series of contrasts play out among elements that are bright and dark, light and heavy, coarse and refined, as visitors enter the grand hall where the structure of the ancient residence is situated. Sky wells penetrate the roof, bringing natural light into the depths of the enclosure and illuminating the priceless artefact on display. Only upon reaching the mezzanine does the structural configuration of the building begin to reveal itself. The hovering metal roof is lifted 50 cm off the solid base by copper-clad trusses to introduce a sliver of continuous illumination around its periphery. Wrapping itself around the historical wooden structure, the mezzanine space allows visitors to appreciate intricate carpentry details at eye level.The basement level includes a secondary arrival lobby housing a rotunda, a sunken courtyard and tasting rooms. At the top of the rotunda, a carved oculus capped by the glass is submerged beneath the pool in the courtyard above. It filters the sun through a thin film of water, creating a mesmerizing play of reflections. Related: Aranya Art Center in Qinhuangdao, China by Neri&Hu. [Images courtesy of Neri&Hu. Photography by Hao Chen.] Share the love:FacebookTwitterLinkedInEmailPinterest Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ