théATRE is a modern lifestyle brand that utilizes tea to connect drinking, food and art. This time, SHANJUCHAJING Concept Store gives a brand-new interpretation of the tea culture.
The shop is located in Beijing CBD office area, and the nearby businesses are mostly coffee and milk tea stores serving the working group. Through an integrated experience of the space and tea products, this project aims to become a “mountain getaway” where people can escape the busy city and find inner peace.

photo: Keishi Horikoshi/SS

The store is organized into different areas. From the spacious and transparent sales display area to the relatively private lounge area and then to the completely hidden VIP tea room, this shop offers customers an immersive experience with the careful manipulation of circulation, material and light. The beauty of tea lies in its rich shapes, colors, aromas and tastes. The diversity that originates from plant species and fermentation time is worth exploring. Different from the ordinary tea stores that focus on quantity, SHANJUCHAJING hopes to provide people with an environment to smell, taste and appreciate, while gradually deepen their understanding of tea.

photo: Song Yuming/ Ruijing Photo

This design made bold experiments on materials. A new material called “tea-earth brick” is customized for the shop. Combining tea leaf and the soil required for its growth, “tea-earth brick” carries nature to the urban setting. The production of “tea-earth brick” is based on the chemical-free pressing technology of rammed earth. Through repeated testing of tea proportion and the adjustments of making process, the brick shows a
range of color and texture variations while meeting strength needs. From a distance, the wall exhibits natural soil color variations; up close, tea leaf particles create a textured surface, stimulating endless imagination. 

photo: Song Yuming/ Ruijing Photo

photo：Keishin Horikoshi/SS

Solid wood panels are used where customers may walk up-close and touch. Large panels with natural wood edges are selected for their beautiful irregularity. This trace of life echoes the atmosphere of the shop, creating a space where time flows quietly.

photo:Keishin Horikoshi/SS

On furniture design, the aim is to maximize the display of tea. Tea-study Drawers allow people to learn the shape of tea from branches to finished products, and smell the aroma of different tea species. The wall and counter displays are at suitable heights for showcasing théATRE products, covering all angles of human perspectives.

photo:Keishin Horikoshi/SS

Considering the most comfortable guest sitting height, the tea bar is lower than general coffer bars, and adopts a cleaner and more spacious countertop. Customers and tea servers sit across each other, and the tea ceremony is carried out under a relaxed communication.

photo: Song Yuming/ Ruijing Photo

photo: Keishin Horikoshi/SS

VIP tea room takes the shape of an independent traditional tea house. The slopped ceiling and abundant natural lighting give it a unique characteristic. Accessed from a dark preparation room, this space gives people a nice surprise. photo: Keishin Horikoshi/SS

The shop has a large window display facing south, but this façade can only be viewed across a garage entrance slope. Aiming at the overall impression from a distance, wooden grilles are used to unify and highlight the store style. At the same time, taking advantage of the abundant sunlight, the design set the lounge area and VIP tea room to the south side. At daytime, linen curtain prevents eyesight from the street; while after dawn, light strips on the grille bring indirect illumination, infusing warmth into the interior.

photo: Song Yuming/ Ruijing Photo

photo:Keishi Horikoshi/SS

“Life is tea, tea for life.”
The design of SHANJUCHAJING not only tries to sell tea, but also hopes to popularize an unhurried and contented living philosophy.