Interior view of PURE NFTEA
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Hospitality Interiors

Chinese tea cafe redesigned for the next generation

“The simplicity of this project makes it successful. The earthy red plaster treatment stands in beautiful contrast to the muralled wall,” Taylor Cornell, Judge

Project: PURE NFTEA

Location: Shenzhen, China

Award: Hospitality Interiors: Restaurants & Cafes, Silver, 2023

Design Practice: EK Design & PP Design Gallery

Client: PURE NFTEA

PURE NFTEA - a tea brand located in the Futian District of Shenzhen - aims to reinterpret Chinese tea culture in a fresh way for a younger generation. The space consists of indoor and outdoor areas, both with a triangular horizontal plane. The design team maximised space and minimised the sense of narrowness by adding parallel beams to the existing columns. They also created new decorative columns at the joints and created passages out of the angles to make use of the corners. The asymmetrical yet balanced frame showcases traditional Chinese architecture's joinery techniques. A variety of seating options includes bar seating which seamlessly blends with the existing beams and columns.

Design highlights

The muralled wall painting is inspired by the Along the River During the Qingming Festival scroll, blending realistic and romantic elements. It incorporates three ancient paintings, Shanglin Park, Huishan Tea Party, and Tea Extraction, edited to combine modern ideology and traditional copper plate printing techniques. The design team also used the natural colours of both the soil and tea to showcase the unique terroir used for PURE NFTEA and to celebrate the rich history of Chinese tea.

  • Storefront
  • Interior detail
  • Interior detail
  • Bar counter
  • Table and chair
  • Aerial view
  • Seating area

Photo credit: Jack Qin, Hongyan Zhang

PROJECT CREDITS
  • DESIGN DIRECTOR: Mao Hua
    VISUAL IDENTITY DESIGN TEAM: SPD STUDIO


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