Germany & Japan – Architect Terunobu Fujimori is bringing the essence of Japanese tea ceremonies to an elevated treehouse.
Opening as part of Hombroich rocket station, a now disused NATO missile base in Germany, the Ein Stein Haus teahouse is designed to capture the unique heritage and principles of tea ceremonies in Japan. Inspired by Zen Buddhism, the three metre-high construction, reachable by a winding path surrounded by pine trees, sits on stilts and combines a black robinia wood structure with a narrow metal staircase. Externally, the roof appears to curve inwards, with any geometric elements intentionally broken up to reflect wabi-sabi aesthetics.
‘When designing teahouse architecture, you have to create a separate world that is distinct from everyday life. The key is to let something float above the ground,’ says Terunobu Fujimori.
As consumers seek escapism and disconnection, they’re looking to their lived environments to experience contemplation and reach Enlightened States.