Yatofu uses “honest” materials to renovate the Theme Tea Room in Helsinki
Design studio Yatofu is sophisticated a teahouse downtown Helsinki with elements of brick, oak and oxidized steel.
The Theme The cafe, which serves traditional Chinese and Japanese teas without artificial additives, was redesigned to reflect both the craftsmanship of the brewing process and the raw feel of the tea leaves themselves.
“A grounded palette of honest and textured materials was extracted from the materials used in the tea making process,” explained Yatofu.
“These were reinterpreted into a modern space, using modern forms, focusing on handmade features to create a visual dialogue that speaks to the signs of time and craftsmanship.”
Visitors have access to the tea room a resale in an area where packaged teas are displayed oxidized steel shelves hung between the columns of the living edge oak tree.
The thickly cut oak blocks also form a table in the middle of the room, supported by a grooved base bricks.
On the other side of the tea room is a bright lounge area where guests can relax with a hot drink.
Oak was again used here to make chairs, stools and table tops, as well as long benches.
Oxidized steel edgings placed inside the low wall showcase a selection of modern magazines for reading a tea hour.
A gauze white curtain opens the tasting area at the back of the room, where visitors can sample the brand’s most unique themed flavors and learn about the art of making tea.
The space is anchored by a fading wooden table, above which hangs a bulbous paper lantern.
The patterned feature wall is clad in half with the traditional flat bricks and half with the same grooved bricks used under the store table.
To reduce waste, Yatofu calculated in time how many bricks would be needed for these elements and sent any waste for recycling.
The themed final room accommodates a kitch-colored kitchen with drinks facilities and is surrounded by a variety of utensils such as teapots and ornate Japanese-style teacups.
All the walls of the room have been plastered with beige plaster, with the exception of one corner, which has left an exposed piece of the building shell that has worn over the course of the building.
Last year, Yatofu founders Yihan Xiang and Angela Lindahl designed a mixed use post office To the Chinese city of Ningbo.
The project was named year small retail interior at 2021 Dezeen Awards, the judges praised it as “playful, engaging and beautifully done”.
Photography has submitted Aleksi Tikkala.
Project points:
Video: Mark Vicuña
Staging and design: Piia Emilia