TEA HOUSE PAVILION
Designed by GRAU architects, Tea House Pavilion in the Czech Republic is based on the traditional Japanese architecture of tea houses
Located on the bank of Češký Těšín dam, Tea House Pavilion invites people to experience nature, focusing the visitor’s attention on the water reservoir and the views, sounds and movements of the area. It forces a person to stop and slow down thanks to the endless view into the treetops, the defined view of the boundless calm water surface and the gentle closure from the surrounding bustle of everyday life. The interior of the pavilion comfortably accommodates six people, sitting face-to-face around the table during the tea ceremony, which gives the ceremony a certain impression of intimacy.
Several rules of the traditional tea ceremony were transferred to the final design. When entering the interior, each visitor must bend down to pass under the lowest horizontal beam of the structure, which refers to the niriji-guchi door, a symbol of the equality of all participants in the ceremony. At the same time, upon entering, a view opens up attention to the water reservoir. A low table in the middle of the layout invites visitors to sit on their knees as is customary in Japanese culture. Stiffening of the lower part of the structure with plywood boards provides a feeling of privacy and detachment from exterior noises.
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Michael McDonnell Managing Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine
