Golden A' Design Award Winner 2020
This interior architectural photograph presents a ceremonial tea classroom designed for floor-level seated practice, captured in landscape orientation with warm natural wood tones dominating throughout. Beginning at the background, a textured white wall surface at the left provides tonal contrast while expansive windows reveal lush green forest foliage beyond, tree branches and leaves visible through the glazing like a living screen. Moving toward the middle ground, a dramatic dark stone wall with an aged bonsai specimen creates depth termination at the right side. The ceiling structure consists of exposed wooden beams in rich walnut brown, angled to form a protective overhead canopy, from which hang approximately seven dome-shaped pendant lights crafted from thin bamboo strips arranged vertically, each fixture appearing perhaps the size of a large melon, glowing with warm interior illumination like captured amber light. The foreground and middle ground feature a raised wooden platform elevated approximately knee-height above the surrounding floor, its surface crafted from smooth planks in warm honey gold tones suggesting the color of afternoon sunlight through autumn leaves. Upon this platform, rectangular low tables stand in four parallel rows, their surfaces smooth and warm to the touch in imagination. Surrounding each table, circular floor cushions rest in natural straw color with the texture of woven grass that would feel firm yet yielding beneath seated weight, their pale wheat color contrasting gently with the deeper amber wood. The floor beneath the platform appears to be cool grey slate tiles, smooth and mineral. Soft illumination comes from multiple sources creating gentle overall brightness without harsh shadows, the atmosphere feeling calm as still water, quiet as morning before the world awakens.
The designer uses large windows to eliminate human obstacles, perfectly reflects the spatial ideas of the tea guest culture, creates the openness and connectivity of indoor and outdoor spaces, and improves the level of communication and interaction between people. Making tea art is no longer just a learning class, but let participants experience the tranquility and integrity of tea, the harmony and unification of nature and people.