Step inside and take a seat. Changes in level and carefully placed partitions create a feeling of comfort and shelter, like a childhood hideaway: apart from the bustle, yet still connected to the street outside.

The design connects each part of the tea house while bringing nature indoors, suggesting an open-air courtyard. Corridor-like passages and inner-court views create depth. Reflective metal mesh and reclaimed timber columns frame two seating areas, where round marble tables and square oak tables offer different moods for tea. Handcrafted paper lamps float overhead in organic forms, lending the room an unexpected, otherworldly feeling.

At the end of the passage, a long open counter meets a wall of teas. A young artisan hand-finished a large copper tray through nearly thirty stages. It holds aroma jars for dozens of smith&hsu teas, inviting a more thoughtful choice. Squares and circles recur in different materials and scales, giving the space its layered character.