Japanese Aesthetics and Tennessee Craft: A Teahouse for Cross-cultural Exploration
IARC 475 - Fall 2023
For a demonstration of the Japanese tea ceremony to promote cultural activities, we designed and built a contemporary portable teahouse to be exhibited at the Knoxville Asia Festival and similar cultural receptions and gatherings in the East Tennessee region. When not used for demonstration, the tea house will be sited and implemented as a campus respite—a place of peacefulness and promotion of mental well-being.
Traditionally, teahouses express restraint and use of materials close to nature. We studied the design
of tea rooms and teahouses in Japan from historical to contemporary settings. The portable tea house incorporates East Tennessee resources and crafts to promote Japanese culture and traditions within the region. Emphasis was placed on cross-cultural experience by approaching the design process with an understanding of Japanese culture and Tennessee resources and craft in a highly collaborative setting. To achieve this, our studio worked under the guidance and consultation of friends and partners from the East Tennessee Japanese community.
of tea rooms and teahouses in Japan from historical to contemporary settings. The portable tea house incorporates East Tennessee resources and crafts to promote Japanese culture and traditions within the region. Emphasis was placed on cross-cultural experience by approaching the design process with an understanding of Japanese culture and Tennessee resources and craft in a highly collaborative setting. To achieve this, our studio worked under the guidance and consultation of friends and partners from the East Tennessee Japanese community.
