Transformation of a Tiny “Forgotten Storeroom” by the Use of Recycled Objects

The project is an attempt at sustainable design. HHC Design Studio transformed an abandoned storeroom in its office into a tea room. The original space was on a mezzanine under the staircase, which was cramped and had a low ceiling of merely 1.7m, making it a "forgotten corner" in the workplace. By bringing in old items such as wooden window panels recycled from old buildings, the design team activated the forgotten space and also gave new life to traditional objects that carry memories and cultural value.
The tea room uses light to define the space. It is enclosed by traditional Chinese wooden window panels, which produce varied light and shadow effects and hence enrich the space. The tea room returns to the scale of Oriental traditional space. The use of tatami allows for the communication between the host and guests in the traditional Oriental posture of sitting on the floor, which turns the low space into a suitable, pleasant communication place. The multi-purpose furniture pieces brought into the tea room makes the space quite flexible. The projector screen not only provides projection function, but also serves as a flexible partition for the space.