The Tea Barn
- Location
- Cēsis, Latvia
- Typology
- Hospitality
- Stage
- Schematic Design
- Role
- Sole author
- Year
- 2018
The Tea Barn is a competition proposal developed for Bee Breeders in partnership with Latvian herbal tea makers Ozolini. Sited in the quiet, eco-rich landscape of the Amata region near Cēsis, the project rehabilitates a historic 1850 stone barn adjacent to Lake Bezdibenė, translating the slow, meditative rituals of tea harvesting and making into a deeply contextual architectural experience.
Rather than demolishing or over-modernizing the heritage structure, the design preserves the original 1850 fieldstone walls as a sacred historical artifact with respect to ancestors. The new building envelope is nestled cleanly within this stone ruin. By slightly elevating the original roofline, the proposal introduces a continuous ribbon of clerestory windows that floods the interior with soft daylight while maintaining the structural integrity of the stone walls. The roof is heavily insulated from below and clad in reclaimed timber planks from the top, merging old masonry with modern ecological comfort.
The interior is choreographed as a sequence of distinct spatial atmospheres, structured as four interconnected "worlds":
World One (Garden): Located at the western main entrance, this multifunctional transition zone acts as an indoor garden and foyer. High clerestory windows and skylights wash the space in natural light, while integrated timber frames visually connect it to the workshop above.
World Two (Bedrooms): Positioned on the ground floor, these three guest rooms feature Japanese-style raised wooden sleeping platforms with futon mattresses, offering highly flexible sleeping arrangements for couples, friends, or families. Facing east, the rooms utilize skylights positioned directly above the platforms, allowing guests to stargaze at night and wake up to the morning sun.
World Three (Living Room): The social and emotional heart of the barn. This double-height space contains the kitchen and a flexible, sunken living area. A massive glass curtain wall faces north, opening the interior entirely to the surrounding birch and pine forests. In the center, a sunken table can be mechanically lifted flush with the floor to create a flat, open platform ideal for yoga, meditation, and group gatherings.
World Four (Workshop): Suspended as a mezzanine loft above the living room, this dedicated space serves as the tea-making, drying, and packaging workshop. The loft is highly ventilated through operable skylights equipped with movable external timber planks that double as adjustable sunshades against the harsh western sun. Sliding doors leading to the south-facing herb storage are perforated with a decorative pattern inspired by the "Lauku Tea" logo, filtering light and aromas between spaces.
Through this sensitive layering of historic preservation, local timber craft, and highly flexible spatial planning, the guest house becomes a living instrument for slow tourism, aligning the preservation of the landscape with the physical and mental well-being of its guests.
