ABOUT THE PROJECT

• Dimensions:  20m²
• Build time: 4 weeks

This project involved designing and constructing a fully insulated Japanese tea house with a sloping roof due to the proximity of the boundary fence. The client was keen to incorporate a Japanese garden within the footprint of the building and we designed the structure to create a small space between the walls and entrance deck. The garden featured an Oribe lantern and a Pittosporum.  A circular Shoji window and sliding aluminium doors form the front facade. Top hung windows on two elevations ensure good ventilation.  The interior was clad in natural veneer timber sheet material, with bamboo flooring, infra-red heating and a Shoji style ceiling light.  The exterior softwood timber received the Japanese Sugi-ban treatment that involves ‘charring’ the timber to increase its durability.

In another area of the garden, we installed a circular water feature and curved granite bench in a bed of silver-grey zen gravel.