Bridging Teahouse is one of the 17 pavilions of Jinhua Architecture Park, located in the new Jindong District—an area masterplanned by Herzog & de Meuron in 2003. The park, designed by world-renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, is set by the city’s Yiwu River on a strip of land some 2 km / 1.25 mile long and dedicated to the memory of his father, the poet Ai Qing. Together, the pavilions form an important part of the new district’s development and create attractions for a range of people.
The building forms a structure that serves as a mirror: the lower part reflects the upper part and produces an effect of continuous space. The design explores the typological interaction between two traditional structures from the gardens of Ancient China: a teahouse and a bridge. Developed in collaboration with local engineers, the bridge provides different platforms for diverse uses, containing micro-atmospheres for privacy and intimacy that generate distinct visual experiences for the residents and visitors of Jinhua. Local materials and craftspeople were employed to embed the project in the community.
YEARS
2004-2006
STATUS
Built
SCALE
250 m² / 2,691 ft²
LOCATION
Jinhua, China
CLIENT
Herzog & de Meuron and Ai Weiwei
CONTEXT
Constructed with simple, locally sourced materials, clay bricks and plaster, it is in the Jinhua Ai Qing Cultural Park, part of a 270,000 m² masterplan for the Jindong district’s new commercial, cultural and entertainment center. The teahouse design was commissioned by Herzog & de Meuron and contemporary Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.
TEAM
Fernando Romero, Eduardo Sosa, María Teresa Catrip, Carlos Bedoya, León Amezcua, Alberto Amaya, Israel Álvarez, Jean Luc Fugier, Víctor Jaime, Yara Sigler.
Gallery
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Forbes, March 2020