A tea house in China built its windows entirely from pressed sugar panes, backlit so the interior glows amber through translucent walls that will eventually dissolve in rain. The studio treated impermanence as a feature, not a problem. It is, objectively, one of the more poetic architectural decisions made in recent years.
This beautiful little tea-house has windows made of sugar, pressed between glass. Pretty striking. Via William Lamson:
Solarium references a tradition of isolated outposts designed for reflection. Each of the 162 panels is made of sugar cooked to different temperatures and then sealed between two panes of window glass. The space functions as both an experimental greenhouse, growing three species of miniature citrus trees, and a meditative environment. In warm months, a 5×8 ft panel on each side of the house opens up to allow viewers to enter and exit the house from all directions. In addition to creating a pavilion like environment, this design references the architecture of a plant leaf, where the stomata opens and closes to help regulate the plants temperature. Set within the open the landscape, the house functions as a hybrid sanctuary at once evoking a plant conservatory, a chapel, and zen garden.
Materials: Steel, glass, sugar, citrus trees
Dimensions: 10′ 10″ x 8′ 11″ x 10′ 3 3⁄8 in.
