I’m always on the lookout for the quintessential tea house. For me, it would be in nature as my relationship with tea speaks to its natural elements. With each cup, I envision beautiful tea slopes on tall mountain peaks shrouded in morning mist. The tea house would need to be modern in style to allow itself to become part of the world outside.
The New York Times recently did a piece about the Japanese artist and visionary Hiroshi Sugimoto. It was his glass tea house in Venice that captured my imagination: “Hiroshi Sugimoto is a celebrated chronicler of the monotonous, the frozen and the familiar. He has photographed seascapes, modernist buildings and wax figures of famous people.”
I found it interesting that Sugimoto created such a small space, suitable for only two 
persons: the tea master and the guest. The small transparent box provides a unique space encouraging a degree of intimacy between the pair. Although it is set up on the grounds of a museum, I like to imagine it in a forrest, surrounded by trees and passing animals.
I’m not sure what it is about nature, but I find myself at peace in a way that I’m not able to achieve indoors. It reminds me that we’re all connected and part of something greater. Those of us who love tea often find that similar connection with the people whom we choose to share tea with. This connection feels universal in that it’s a common thread that people write about when sharing stories of tea ceremonies (formal or informal) that they’ve attended. Tea unites us. Tea soothes us. Tea stimulates us. And of course, tea relaxes us.
The amazing thing about tea is that it brings the beauty and gentle side of its nature to where ever we happen to be. For that reason, two people can commune over a cup of tea in a tiny glass box placed in the courtyard of a city museum. On the other hand, after a four mile hike above Lake Louise, the Teahouse in the Plain of Six Glaciers is a wonderful sight. The rustic building blends in with the mountainous splendor surrounding it. I hope you find your favorite Teahouse in your preferred setting.
How about this one? http://www.uqpu.net/teahouse/
WOW!!!!
Even I don’t love tea enough to get to this one! http://www.uqpu.net/teahouse/
As a woman who used to rock climb, I find this amazing. As you can see, although it’s challenging to ascend, it doesn’t require climbing gear. For me, that would be ideal as it suggests that it’s really not dangerous. I always enjoyed climbing in the rock gym rather than outside. The outside felt very dangerous. I felt that I was hanging on by my finger tips for dear life. Truth is, I was! Talk about scary.
OMG, Diane! My knees started knocking just looking at the photographs of those planks bolted into the rock face. Getting to the teahouse alive would make me so happy that any cup of tea would taste like the elixir of the gods.
I start getting palm sweating about the 3rd or 4th floor, Regena. I’m out on this one! :) Not a potential high-rise condo living type here.
How about this one for the less risk taking tea drinkers:)
http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/inflatable-tea-house-by-kengo-kuma.html
I love that it’s movable and you can’t get much safer than this. What do you think Diane?
I’d like to share a cuppa with you, Sandy, Regena and Erika in there, Michele! Oh the tea stories we could swap!