Like Moon Street's leisurely ambiance amidst the bustling streets of Wan Chai, BASAO's new experiential space welcomes visitors with a tranquil and relaxing mood. More than just a commercial brand space, it serves as a welcoming gateway, inviting people into the world of tea and art. With tea as a gesture of hospitality and a focus on being present in the moment, our design, based on spatial organization and mood, aims to create a "still point," offering visitors an inner mindful experience that transcends the trivialities and limitations of daily life.
The ground floor primarily functions as a retail area. We designed flexible island display platforms, paired with components of varying heights, to create layered presentations for tea and ceramics. Working within the site's structural constraints, we maximized the use of both side walls and irregular niches to develop display solutions that balance aesthetic mood and storage efficiency. Ascending the sisal-covered stairs to the upper level reveals a multifunctional space combining an art gallery, a tea workshop, and a private tea-tasting corner for solo contemplation.
The natural, textured materials with a minimal spatial backdrop create a rich sensory experience through contrasts: rough and refined, heavy and light, sharp and warm. This material harmony is enhanced by a strategic orchestration of light, where natural illumination, soft ambient glows, and focused accents converge to instill the space with a deeply resonant, ritualistic atmosphere.