Dezeen Magazine

Tea House by David Jameson

Tea House by David Jameson

A music recital room resembling a Japanese tea house hangs like a lantern in the garden of a residence northwest of Washington DC.

Tea House by David Jameson

The glass and bronze pavilion was completed by American architect David Jameson back in 2009 and is suspended from a pair of steel arms.

Tea House by David Jameson

A ten centimetre-thick wooden door leads inside, where a faceted timber ceiling points down into the centre of the room.

Tea House by David Jameson

A planted garden of bamboo surrounds the pavilion, which is illuminated at night by lights in the floor.

Tea House by David Jameson

The client's family use the room for music performances, dining and as a quiet space for contemplation.

Tea House by David Jameson

Other teahouses on Dezeen include one built atop two chestnut trees and another with a tall hat-like roof - see all our stories about tea houses here.

Tea House by David Jameson

David Jameson also recently completed a house with a barcode on its facade - see our earlier story here.

Tea House by David Jameson

Photography is by Paul Warchol.

Tea House by David Jameson

Here are some more details from the architect:


Tea House

A hanging bronze and glass object inhabits the backyard of a suburban home.

Tea House by David Jameson

The structure, which evokes the image of a Japanese lantern, acts as a tea house, meditation space, and stage for the family's musical recitals.

Tea House by David Jameson

After experiencing the image of the lantern as a singular gem floating in the landscape, one is funneled into a curated procession space between strands of bamboo that is conceived to cleanse the mind and prepare one to enter the object.

Tea House by David Jameson

After ascending an origami stair, the visitor is confronted with the last natural element: a four inch thick, opaque wood entry door.

Tea House by David Jameson

At this point the visitor occupies the structure as a performer with a sense of otherworldliness meditation.

Tea House by David Jameson

Architect: David Jameson Architect

Tea House by David Jameson

Structural Engineer: Linton Engineering

Tea House by David Jameson

Completed: 2009