TEA Community Centre in Xiamen, China by Waterfrom Design.

Waterfrom Design were inspired to create a tranquil, harmonious setting for the TEA Community Center in Xiamen, China. Elements of landscape and nature such as sunlight, airy open space and water were considered both architectural features and calming characteristics throughout the design. Community was top of mind, with the designers creating a space for locals to gather and relax.

“Tea is the tradition and essence of the old Xiamen culture. It is a ritual and life to boil water and brew tea for friends. It is not about the level of tea; drinking tea is a gesture of freeing and calming our mind,” explains the design team.

The building is set across two levels, one of which is below the ground and hidden beneath a pool of water. A spherical internal courtyard spans across both floors, with a tree planted at its centre referencing traditional gathering places in Chinese villages. Half of the courtyard is enclosed by glass, allowing natural light to penetrate the below-ground floor and give views of the tree.

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“In the past, an old tree always acted as the core of the gathering among the villagers, who exchanged daily information and built relationships. It is a habit and a collective memory to gather under the old tree,” explains the team at Waterfrom.

The above-ground glass tea pavilion is permeated with the sound of flowing water from the surrounding pool, a simulated lakeside experience. A copper tea table extends through one of the glass walls, with a hollow in its centre that allows water to flow through the table and into the pool outside.

“When the tea is being brewed on the table, the sound of the water flows continually into the lake stretches all over the room,” said the designers.

An opening in the floor features a dimly lit narrow staircase that leads to the floor below, with the designers conceiving the entrance as an opportunity for visitors to descend into a state of relaxation. The tree casts shadows across the walls, while the ‘lake’ above is visible over the roof. The multipurpose level features dining tables, a serving counter and lounge space with bookshelves and multiple seating options. There is also a lecture space and exhibition area for rotating events held in the community centre.

The designers stuck to a minimal palette of natural materials in serene, soft shades throughout the interior. Avoiding anything excessive, Waterfrom constructed an intuitive, flowing space defined by its simplicity. Limestone and sandstone fixtures are complemented by furnishings made from fir timber, embellished by elements such as copper, handmade pottery and rattan.

[Images courtesy of Waterfrom Design. Photography by Yuchen Chao.]