sunaba's zen, nature-infused japanese tearoom fosters sense of spirituality in urban tokyo

sunaba's zen, nature-infused japanese tearoom fosters sense of spirituality in urban tokyo

sunaba completes japanese tearoom in central tokyo

 

Miyabi by Sunaba is a versatile, spiritual sanctuary celebrating the ancient Japanese tea ceremony in the heart of urban Tokyo, Japan. Located along a bustling intersection in a modern complex, the traditional tearoom has been created as a serene and intimate space that can naturally switch from hosting everyday commercial activities to Japanese traditions, both environmentally and spiritually.

 

Bringing the calming effects of nature into the urban context, the architects create a quiet space shrouded in a zen ambience achieved by a sequence of spatial movements defined by nature, warm light, and historic Japanese design elements. ‘The aim is to create a space where visitors can immerse themselves in an extraordinary experience through a series of movements and spatial developments,’ note the team at Sunaba.

sunaba's zen, nature-infused japanese tearoom fosters sense of spirituality in urban tokyo
Koma — small tearoom | all images by Koji Tsuchiya & Juan Carlos Pinto

 

 

Bringing calming effects of nature into the urban context

 

Recalling the traditional tea ceremony’s Shichu no Sankyo, Sunaba brings the calming effects of nature to the urban context through a small tea garden. The narrow Roji path, lined with small rocks and dark wooden paneling, greets the visitor as they leave the bustle of the city and enter the space. Engulfing them with a contemplative ambience enhanced by the warm wooden interiors and stone lined paths, it leads them to the tearoom further inside. As the visitor moves through the dimly lit space, a soft natural glow shines through corrugates glass, enveloping and spiritually ‘purifying’ them.

 

Inside Miyabi, the spatial arrangement unfolds to surround the core sacred Koma space with a Mizuya warehouse and Roji, ensuring a dark and quiet space for the ceremony space. Further ensuring the tearoom’s privacy, the architects inserted a screen of 100 mm thick corrugated glass in front of the condominium’s large glass wall facade, attenuating sound and light and maintaining a sense of serenity.

sunaba's zen, nature-infused japanese tearoom fosters sense of spirituality in urban tokyo
Nijiriguchi — crawl-through doorway

sunaba's zen, nature-infused japanese tearoom fosters sense of spirituality in urban tokyo
Sunaba creates a quiet, intimate space for the traditional Japanese tea ceremony

sunaba's zen, nature-infused japanese tearoom fosters sense of spirituality in urban tokyo
Hiroma — large tea room

sunaba's zen, nature-infused japanese tearoom fosters sense of spirituality in urban tokyo
the multifunctional space can easily transform to host commercial activity

miyabi-tea-room-tokyo-designboom-17

Roji — garden leading to the tearoom

sunaba's zen, nature-infused japanese tearoom fosters sense of spirituality in urban tokyo
the Roji garden naturally transitions from the bustling exterior to quiet, inner ceremony spaces

sunaba's zen, nature-infused japanese tearoom fosters sense of spirituality in urban tokyo
Subana devises a spatial sequence of light to guide the visitor through Miyabi

miyabi-tea-room-tokyo-designboom-10

Chozubachi — washbasin

 

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MIZUYA / preparation room
MIZUYA / preparation room
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project info:

 

name: Miyabi tea room 

location: Tokyo, Japan

architecture: Sunaba + Wataru Ogino

construction: LINKS HORI Inc.

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: ravail khan | designboom

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