The Tea House by Archi-Union Architects

Archi-Union Architects designed the Tea House in the backyard of their office in Shanghai, China.

Project description

The Tea House, located in the backyard of Archi-Union’s J-office, is constructed from the salvaged parts of the original warehouse’s collapsed roof. The site was extremely constricted with walls on three sides, and with only one side facing towards an open space that contains a pool. The space was further restricted by a mature tree.

The design tries to embody harmony by integrating enclosure and openness, delightful space and logical construction and other complicated relations. This building reacts to the site’s environment; the plan layout is a logically obscure quadrilateral, thus maximizing the amount of space. It is divided into three parts. A covered public area is formed towards the open space with the pool, with an enclosed tea house at ground level and library on the first floor where a small triangular balcony extends around the existing tree.

Other more private spaces exist such as a lounge, reading room and service room which are arranged towards the rear of the building; a delightful transitional space was created to connect the public space and the private spaces.

Design: Archi-Union Architects

Photography by Zhonghai Shen

Buoy Stool by Turnstone

Buoy Stool makes you move, yeah, it swivels, tilts, moves up and down, pretty active sitting. Moving is good for our body, it keeps our body actives and our mind sharp, sitting on this stool is playful. The design is based on extensive research on multiple small businesses where people are mobile all the time even when they sit. Don’t believe it? Well pay attention, you can see knee bouncer, jazzy hands, a pencil taper, or other movements. Buoy allows you to move freely, a nice moving experience while sitting.

Designer : Turnstone

Buoy Stool by Turnstone is originally posted on Tuvie

Villa Yarze by Raëd Abillama Architects

Raëd Abillama Architects designed Villa Yarze, located in Lebanon.

Project description

Villa Yarze started with an existing eclectic house in a large landscape. The project was approached by keeping certain characteristic sections of the existing house and adding new programs and spaces to it. Attention was given to large lit openings, integration of stone lintels and pedestals to the facade, while creating a contemporary result.

The landscape integrates the several natural levels of the house, while breaking the scale of the resulting retaining walls. The hard and soft landscaping makes use of native trees, fruit trees and herbal shrubs, to create a raw natural context.

Design: Raëd Abillama Architects