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Tea House by A1 Architects

By Sophie Johnson

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Placed in a garden setting in Prague, Czech Republic, this minimalist tea house was designed by David Maštálka of A1 Architects and completed in 2008.

The tea house occupies an area of 23 square feet and is constructed from natural materials.

Tea House by A1 Architects:

“At the foot of the hill dividing Hloubetin and Aloisov you’ll find a small garden. The garden is unostentatious, slightly wild but even so graceful, each spring apple and cherry trees blossom and when summer swiftly blows upon us our sight of the passing clouds is surrounded by slim blades of grass.

The Tea House as a typological kind follows the Japanese tradition of minimizing space and is intended as place the meet with guest at a cup of tea. I am not an orthodox worshiper of the tea cult, however I am very interested in the theme of it being a place to gather with friends.

From the outside, an inconspicuous structure is ready to surprise its visitors upon arriving inside, giving them a different perspective of the garden. A world hidden inside, where time flows at its own pace, a vacant space leaving an impression just by its spaciousness.

When first reasoning about such a place I thought of the places that had made an impression upon me and came to the decision of building it on a circular platform enclosed by a translucent dome breathing the inner peace of small sacred buildings. Diffused rays of light illuminate the quarters within; the translucent dome resembles the sky and the hearth – the home. The spherical shape directs your attention to the hearth, on which the tea is prepared and creates a close bondage with all who are present.

The inner walls are constituted on one side by a view of the garden and on the other a clay parget. Guests set themselves down on the mat. The hearth is welded black steel. The dome laminated within is pasted with paper, through which light shines and invitingly illuminates the space inside.

The Teahouse serves as a place for gathering with guests. The invitation itself begins a certain tense moment of anticipation, during which we would like to present our guests with an enjoyable experience. The moment of gathering where we share our feelings and impressions – our own mutual closeness which I think cannot be better depicted by anyone other than master Sen no Rikyú:

‘A house and dewed ground
Guest and host
Drinking together a cup of tea
In quiet contemplation
In spiritual symphony’

The oak construction stands on stones from a nearby pond. Burnt larch facing creates a mimic colouring effect of a building in a garden because the attention of the gathering itself is focused on the inner world, which one discloses only upon entering. The master of construction is Vojtech Bilisic with whom I built the Teahouse in 35 days during the months of April and May 2008.”

structure scheme
floor plan
floor plan
cross section

 

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Photos by: Ester Havlová

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About Sophie Johnson

As the senior editor for HomeDSGN, Sophie is the ultimate authority on all things home. With years of experience and a deep passion for home decor, she brings an unparalleled level of expertise to everything she does. From decorating and interior design or from cleaning to organization, her insights and guidance are invaluable to anyone looking to transform their living space. Learn more about HomeDSGN's Editorial Process.

1 thought on “Tea House by A1 Architects”

  1. I found this tea house years ago on your website, and since then I am in love with this minimal sanctuary. I live in Hillsoboro, Oregon , U.S.A. I am wondering how I could purchase the design or the entire structure in order for me to build in my backyard. Please let me know how this could be done. If you could send me all information, I would be delighted and appreciated.

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