Architect He Wei has added an elongated industrial box to the existing 1970s historic factory by using slender wood sticks in the outer and inner surface of the building. Called 'Ding Hui Yuan Zen & Tea Chamber', He Wei has rebuilt Tea Chamber into an office in the factory's latest renovation when the old factory experienced several times of renovation after its construction in 1970s.

The architect calls this 'factory renovation project' as unlike other factories with large space, ''the factory doesn’t have a big space span while the height is normal showing no special features. However, a 100 square meters backyard is quite impressive. Based on the owner’s requirement, designers need to reconstruct it into a Zen Chamber,'' says He Wei.

He Wei's Zen Chamber addresses to the Eastern spirit and ancient concept while simply not focusing on a simple display of traditional symbols. The architect's design wishes to convey the essence of the Chinese private gardens, such as “seeing a bigger picture from small matters” and “the path winds through high peaks”.

The basic approach was to restructure the circulation of the space in the historic factory. Designers gave up the simple layout of the existing circulation space with hanging stairs directly attached to its entrance. The design creates a longer circulation for people to calm down when entering the main space in the philosophy of Zen Tea. 

An extra-long, zigzag path is made: people can enter the building from the west side after passing through a long and narrow semi-outdoor corridor. They will enter the backyard after turning to the north and walking through the entire Zen Chamber.

The architect added a folded stairs in this area, located between the long ramp and paralleled stairs. People will see the inner courtyard and a big tearoom through the grating racks while stepping up the stairs. Then they can reach to the second floor through a long, narrow, and closed space. 

The second floor is served as the main public space of the building, including a Guqin (a representative instrument of traditional Chinese musical culture) room, small tearooms, meditation room and a large tearoom.

The changing rhythm of the brightness is another key of renovation. Around the inner court, the newly created space changes its appearance between the natural light and the artificial light arranging the transparent, semi-transparent and close-up visual effects. 

After entering the building, people could enjoy the courtyard in different time and different perspectives, and vice versa, which is also a practice of sampling the Chinese garden.

He Wei is Associate Professor of School of Architecture, China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Vice Chairman, Rural Architecture Committee, The Architectural Society of China, Member at Regional Architecture Committee, The Architectural Society of China, Vice Director, Environmental Art Illuminating Committee, Beijing Illuminating Engineering Society, Editor in Chief, German Professional “Lighting Design” Magazine, Chinese edition and Editorial Committee at “Community” Magazine.

Analysis 3D diagram

Circulation diagram

Floor plan

2nd floor plan

3rd floor plan

Before-After renovation

3D section showing Tea Chamber

Sketch-1

Sketch-2

Project Facts

Project name: Ding Hui Yuan Zen & Tea Chamber

Location: Beijing, China

Client: Better Lift Art Club Co., Ltd

Principal architect: He Wei

Architecture and Interior design team: Chen Long, Wang Qi, Zhao Zhuo-Ran

Architecture and Interior design company: He Wei Studio/3andwich design

Lighting design team: Zhang Xin, Han Xiao-Wei, Zhou Xuan-Yu

Special adviser: Xue Xiao-Ming, Zhang Yi-Cheng

Contractor: Beijing GHLH Construction CO., LTD

Land area: 300 sqm

Construction area: 450 sqm

Design time: 2014-2015

Construction time: 2015-2016.01

All images © Zou Bin, He Wei

> via He Wei