The Relic Shelter, Fuzhou Teahouse in China was designed by Neri&Hu Design and Research Office to contain a historic structure within a new teahouse.

The project draws inspiration from imagery uniquely associated with Fuzhou: the Jinshan Temple, captured by British photographer John Thomson.

It creates an enclosure for a Chinese artefact – the wooden structure of a high-ranking Qing dynasty residence, replete with ornamental carvings and intricate joinery. Relocated from Jiangnan city to its new home in Fuzhou, the Hui-style structure is enshrined as the inhabitable centrepiece of a new teahouse.

It is elevated above a concrete base, with a sweeping copper roof to echo the roofline of the enclosed architectural relic. Visitors are presented with two images of the building upon approach: the upright silhouette of the form, and its mirrored reflection duplicated in the surrounding pool of water.

This project has been longlisted in the hospitality building category of Dezeen Awards 2022.

Architect: Neri&Hu Design and Research Office

Project: The Relic Shelter, Fuzhou Teahouse

Read more: Neri&Hu Design and Research Office