Tea drinking has been a significant part of British social culture since the 17th century. Permeating British society, it has prompted the development of social rituals and cultural artefacts ranging from precise patterns of behaviour; to utensils as varied as elaborate silver tea services and the quilted tea cosy; to different kinds of spaces and new foods. Tea has had similarly broad influence on other cultures, perhaps none more so than Japan where appreciation of tea and tea gathering has been distilled through Zen to become a highly refined cultural practise.
This year our design studio created a vision for a contemporary tea gathering space informed by our field trip to Tokyo and Kyoto in January 2013. The space was a hand-made enclosure of paper and wood, furnished with heavy plywood table and stools. Tea was served with hand-made ceramic tea containers and cups. All were made and assembled by students.
Although the forms and artefacts are very different, Japan and Britain both claim tea preparation and drinking as part of our national identity. This should certainly be celebrated as part of Japan 400.
This was held in association with School of Architecture, Landscape Millemitre Dragon Teas Machinaloci United Atelier