Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has designed a pavilion for hosting traditional tea ceremonies on the deck of a Vancouver tower, coinciding with an exhibition of his work across the street.
Kuma's teahouse is installed on the 19th floor of Shaw Tower, on the terrace of a show apartment that overlooks both the city's Downtown district and the bay.
Kuma, pictured here with developer Ian Gillespie, created the teahouse on the rooftop of a Vancouver tower
Surrounded by stones, the wooden structure features sliding glass walls and a low-slung overhanging roof.
Inside, a central table on hydraulic supports can be raised for users to sit around, and lowered when necessary.
The Japan Unlayered exhibition at the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel provides a retrospective overview of Kuma's work Its installation ties in with an exhibition at the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel, located across a small plaza from Shaw Tower.
Titled Japan Unlayered, the show provides a retrospective overview of Kuma's work through photographs and study models.
Kuma's Floating Teahouse is installed in the hotel lobby
Another of the architect's teahouses, the Floating Teahouse, is installed in the hotel lobby. It is formed from a curtain of organza fabric draped over a translucent helium balloon.
Also as part of the programme, a pop-up store for Japanese brand Muji ? its first retail outpost in Vancouver ? is set up off the lobby.
Kuma also created a pop-up store for Japanese brand Muji to coincide with the exhibition...