Tuesday, May 8, 2007

W 096 F

Draft 2

European teahouses' interior design seems to be a combination between that of the Far East and the West. For an average European person a teahouse is not only a remainder of Far-Eastern cultural customs but it reflects some sort of peaceful calmness of Eastern philosophy, which pervades the atmosphere of the place. A teahouse is a kind of 'dreamworld’, an island of meditation and relaxation. An ideal place to visit for those people who either want to have a little talk with their friends or simply want to have some time on their own. For those who can appreciate the art of making and drinking this exceptionally personal drink, who can feel it with their heart and soul not only with a certain part of their tongue.

Taking these facts into account has this teahouse been created as well. It is situated in the basement part of a small building, in a quiet street. The front door is located on the street side, it is made of natural wood and is coffered with glass fittings. The other door faces a garden which is protected by the teahouse itself and a couple of other buildings next to it. It has a rather important function especially in the Summer, when it stayes wide open all day long. There are some chairs and tables taken outside and the garden operates as an organic part of the teahouse. There is no need to put up sunshades as the leafy trees cool down the air perfectly, which is utterly convenient for the two cats as well, who live in this garden.

The windows start from the floor, they are of semi-circle shape and their radial is about 1.5 metres. Two of them face the street and the other three look at the garden. The room is about 100 m2 and is of rectangular shape. Its height is approximately 2.80 metres and it has a vaulted ceiling. The toilets have been built in one of the corners. The counter is near the front door, on the opposite wall of the toilets. Except for these things everything else is mobile in the teahouse: the natural bamboo cane armchairs, chairs and small tables with cork-wood underplates and the rice-paper partition walls, too. The mobilty of these objects becomes important when a need occurs to rearrange the place for there is a larger group of people coming in, or some others would like to have a little more privacy.

The colour of the walls and the ceiling is English-red and as it has been painted with pulverized paint it is much more radiant and longer-lasting, also it is matt and creates a velvety smooth feeling. The wall-to-wall carpet is moist-green and the strip on the edge is also natural wood. The lighting facilities';which are made of rice-paper, just like the partition walls; brightness is adjustable and they are of various interesting shapes. Some of them hang from the ceiling or the walls, some of them stand on the tables and on the floor.

The heating tubes are hidden under the floor so that the ugly radiators do not take away any space of the wall, where one exhibition follows the other. In addition to this, at a central part of the teahouse there is a fireplace which creates a warm and cosy atmosphere.

The employees are young and enthusiastic, kind and friendly. There are two waiters, two waitresses and of course the boss, who is the business executive and the one that arranges the exhibitions and the opening ceremonies of the exhibitions. He takes an active part in working in the teahouse, too, when he has some spare time. All of them are aware that the place should be clean, tidy and hygenic.

The counter is orbital, with some tall chairs standing around it, in order to offer people the opportunity to sit down and see how the food and teas are prepaired. They can read the menu there which can also be found on each table. The menu includes around 100 different types of teas from various famous tea-exporter countries of the world. There are black teas, green teas, fruit teas and herb teas. There are flavours that people have been enjoying for thousands of years and certain aromas that have been invented in recent years and have become fairly favourable.

Costumers can make a choice between the ready made tea being served to them at their table or they can make their own ones if they wish, for that they are provided with boiling water, different kinds of sugar and artificial sweeteners, milk, lemon, rum, cream and rose-hip jam.

Tea is served in original Chinese porcelan cups and jugs. To keep it warm costumers can put a little cover on the jugs. From the menu visitors can choose from a wide range of sweet and salty biscuits and cakes, fresh and dried fruits. There are some seasonal offers: for instance in the Autumn costumers can ask for baked pumpkin or roast chestnut. Also different types of sandwiches are being prepaired for vegetarians as well as for meat-lovers.

There are a couple of things such as pistachio or peanut that are provided by the teahouse for free. Of the potatoes, which are placed next to the fireplace in a basket, people can take if they feel like and can bake them in the fire.

During the day the teahouse is mostly visited by those people who desire to be alone, want to have a little break or rest, unlike in the evenings when the place becomes crowded with students, couples and circles of friends which makes the room lively and exciting, a place which is worth to visit.

A teahouse with its special atmosphere has a determinative effect on its visitors. The air is seturated by the scent of various types of teas, Earl Grey, Darjeeling, Ceylon, Indian, Nepal black tea, clove and cinnamon, lemon and orange. The distinguishing marks of the place: the sounds, when a teaspoon reaches the side of a cup, the pleasant environment, the twilight, mellow music lingering through the air, the heart-to-heart talks and the regardful exhibitions all induce people to come back from time-to-time again, bringing new friends and acquaintances with them.

No comments: