Presenting the spirit of oriental aesthetics with contemporary restraint, the design team created a tea space that is in constant dialogue with its visitors

CHA JI was founded in 2022 and mainly deals with tea drinks, tea wine, desserts and tea products. The space for this store is located in Keqiao, Shaoxing in Zhejiang Province, in a small independent ancient building with two floors, with an area encompassing over 2,000 square feet. The store sells tea by day, wine by night, hosts occasional small gatherings, and boutique art events.

Shaoxing stone, tin pots, and woolen hats have been extracted from the regional culture and injected into the space at multiple levels. Stepping in, the bar has been cleverly created by old stone slabs, small green bricks, clear cement and messy aluminum plates. The teahouse also embodies the concept of a bar, using the original building's column relationship to enclose. In ancient times, the tea pavilion could shelter from the wind and rain, rest and stay; in leisure time, the tea pavilion could talk and make friends, drink tea and play chess. The tea pavilion has the functions of physical shelter, scenery viewing and socializing. Visitors passing by, and nearby residents are welcome to come in and have a seat and enjoy a cup of tea. The patchwork recombination of materials from different eras awakens the memory of the handmade era and showcases the tradition and culture behind the modernist form.

The second floor is limited in size but infinitely interesting. This space is divided into small private parties, private room service and multi-functional application scenarios. The designers "think architecturally" about the furniture placed in the space (coffee table, chairs). While the hard furnishings form the space, the furniture adds more dimensions to the space and establishes an emotional link. Through materials and geometric proportions, the complete realization of function is achieved, and the sense of architectural proportions is appropriately integrated, expecting the product and space to jointly convey the brand's vision and new sense of value.

Presenting the spirit of oriental aesthetics with contemporary restraint, this space presents a calm dialogue with people and constructs a new type of tea drinking social arena within a land of culture.