Building Narrative has designed the interiors of Basao Teahouse Panji that reinterprets Fujian tea traditions for a contemporary audience in Xiamen, China.

Located in Xiamen, Fujian, Basao Teahouse Panji marks the third collaboration between Basao and designers Building Narrative, where the teahouse explores the dualities between traditional and contemporary tea culture.

Accordingly, the space concepts borrow from traditional Fujian courtyard architecture and contemporary requirements, which are considered on three scales - the urban, interior, and furniture scales.

"The primary design objective was to design a living room for the city," said Building Narrative. "As the teahouse is located on grade at the corner of a hermetic shopping mall facing a key intersection in central Xiamen, the first challenge was to break through the mall facade and connect the interior with the street."

To this end, Building Narrative replaced the mirrored facade with clear glass and developed a palette of natural materials, warm lighting and furniture pieces to project a sense of hospitality and domesticity. In addition, outdoor seating allows patrons to linger outside and reinforces the connection from the teahouse to a sunken terrace below and the city beyond.

This project has been shortlisted in the restaurant and bar interior category of Dezeen Awards China 2024.

Studio: Building Narrative
Project: Basao Teahouse Panji