An ornate wooden structure dating back to the Qing dynasty has been encased in a copper-clad shell to create The Relic Shelter, a teahouse in Fuzhou, China, by Neri&Hu.
The Relic Shelter was designed by the Shanghai-based studio to draw attention to the threat that modern developments pose to traditional architecture and treats the historic building at its centre as an "urban artefact."
Relocated from its original site in Jiangnan, the wooden structure now frames an atmospheric tea lounge, surrounded by a series of private and public lounges, event spaces and bars finished in rough, earth-coloured concrete, plaster and copper.
The Relic Shelter is a teahouse in Fuzhou that was designed by Neri&Hu
"Conceived as an urban artefact and drawing from the historical roots of the city of Fuzhou, the teahouse internalises a piece of distinct heritage at a time when rapid new development has eroded traditional culture and identity," explained the practice. "For this ancient building aspiring to be reborn as a modern tea house, the team adopted architectural strategies that could enhance its new function," it continued.
Raised on a rammed-concrete podium, The Relic Shelter is topped by a copper-clad roof, with its pitch angled to match that of the original wooden building inside. The building has been shortlisted in the hospitality building category of Dezeen Awards 2022.
The wooden structure dates back to the Qing dynasty
Visitors enter into the ...