Tea House Pavilion
Vancouver, Canada
Nestled in a delicate moss and pebble landscape, the Teahouse is a space for stillness and quiet amidst the busy downtown core of Vancouver. It embodies the Japanese philosophy of chado - 'the Way of Tea' - through its rigorous use of materials with simplicity.
Local Douglas Fir was used in place of traditional Japanese cedar. The shoji screens were covered in Japanese washi paper and the tatami mats were handmade in Japan. Carefully detailed and thoughtfully crafted, the tea house is a modern interpretation of a traditional Japanese structure. At the most refined level, the ceremony takes place in the tea house, evoking a deep meditative stillness, bringing the beholder’s awareness back to the most basic level of consciousness.
Credits
Client
Westbank Development
Office
Kengo Kuma Architects & Associates
Area
20 m²
Status
Completed 2016
Photography
Ema Peter
London
+44 7588 623636
Vancouver
+1 604 725 1028
© Sml Studio Architecture 2026.
All Rights Reserved.