Tea-house tranquillity

The DeHui Tea Space has been designed to encourage gentle conversation and a heightened appreciation of tea. Circular designs, a symbol of harmony, fulfilment and oneness in Chinese culture, have been used throughout the tea house. Nestled in a hutong neighbourhood usually made up of a cramped courtyard, housing and food delivery stations, it is also designed to offer a respite from the busy streets outside.

‘The flexible central space is suitable for a variety of activities and can host up to 100 people,’ SMU explains on its website. ‘The design is meant to offer a mindful and contemporary aesthetic approach while softening the rigid rectangular grid of the existing structure.’

The tea house also has space to host temporary exhibitions, as well as two private tea rooms.