lantern-like lighting shines through suspended metal grid within tea pavilion in beijing

bufen atelier designs an intimate tea pavilion in Beijing 798

Located at the intersection of an existing industrial structure in Beijing’s 798 Art District, tea pavilion by bufen atelier functions as both a tea house and social space. The design is characterized by the composition of offset volumes that appear to rest in a state of balance, introducing spatial variation and visual interest within a compact footprint.

The pavilion features a sequence of spatial enclosures and voids, forming a layout without rigid boundaries. A prominent side window opens entirely, allowing the interior to extend into a garden-like outdoor space. This fluid boundary enhances the spatial experience and accommodates a flexible program.

hand-crafted brick tiles and yellow terrazzo define the exterior

Materials include hand-crafted brick tiles, exposed cement, and yellow terrazzo. Designers at bufen atelier selected these materials to highlight their inherent textures and physical properties. Overhead, a suspended metal grid ceiling distributes light uniformly and contributes to a lantern-like visual quality in the space, especially at night.

Externally, the pavilion defines its position within the urban setting through a yellow platform that acts as both an entry point and spatial marker. The design negotiates with surrounding infrastructure, including streets and exposed industrial piping, creating a defined but permeable corner element in the dense urban context.

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project info:

name: tea pavilion in Beijing 798
architect: bufen atelier | @bufen.atelier

location: Beijing, China

area: 52 sqm

photographer: Object Lens

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