dynamic green louvers define transformative tea concept store in china

PMT partners design transformative store for Chinese tea brand

PMT Partners proposes a transformative interior for Charlie’s Tea, featuring adjustable green louvers, in the Chinese urban setting of Guangzhou. Spanning approximately 100 sqm, the design features a rectangular floor plan arranged around a courtyard shaped like the Chinese character ‘回’ (hui). The layout includes an entrance lobby, tea-drinking areas, a production space, and an atrium that serves as an exhibition venue that reflects the brand’s story. Constructed primarily from prefabricated steel, the framework promotes openness and interconnectedness, while replacing conventional partitions with adjustable green louvers.  This fusion of structural transparency with semi-translucent timber louvers generates an atmospheric interplay between solidity and fluidity. Conceived under the theme of a Lingnan Green Garden, the project aims to offer a tranquil environment that forges a connection between visitors and the brand’s storyline.

all images courtesy of PMT Partners

central communal table narrates the history of charlie’s tea

The hot and humid local climate heavily influences the design, emphasizing lightness and transparency over heavy, oppressive structures. The utilization of eaves, a hallmark of Lingnan architecture, creates spaces dedicated to relaxation and social interaction. PMT Partners introduces adjustable louvers to provide flexibility, transitioning the space between semi-open and relatively private. The designers place an eight-meter-long communal table in the center of the courtyard, serving as a focal point for brand storytelling. Adorned with curated artifacts that evoke rich local heritage and diverse tea flavors, this display imbues the courtyard with narrative depth. Suspended from overhead beams extending from the eaves, the table is secured with multiple anchor points to enhance the sensory experience of the space, balancing lateral forces and ensuring stability.

The design also incorporates elements that evoke emotional connections and memories. The Lingnan courtyard ambiance incorporates modern design elements like Manchurian windows, pressed flower glass, and handcrafted wooden curtains, connecting past and present. These familiar materials, often associated with childhood memories, are revitalized in the new tea space.

the design features a rectangular floor plan arranged around a courtyard

adjustable green louvers replace conventional partitions

curated artifacts that evoke Lingnan’s diverse tea flavors are placed on the table

the table display imbues the courtyard with narrative depth

the eight-meter-long communal table is suspended from overhead beams

the structure is made primarily of prefabricated steel

project info:

name: Charlie’s Tea 2024 

location: Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
architect: PMT Partners
area: 100 sqm (1076 sqft)

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edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom