Keiji Ashizawa vaults a 108-square-metre tea shop into Shanghai's Rockbund

Keiji Ashizawa has completed a 108-square-metre flagship tea shop and cafe for Chinese brand Basao in Shanghai's Rockbund, one of the city's most closely watched heritage districts.

The project sits inside an area restored by British studio David Chipperfield Architects, and that context shaped nearly every material decision. Ashizawa, founder of Keiji Ashizawa Design (KAD), wanted what he calls an "open and inviting retail space" with a natural connection to the street.

"When designing an interior, we place great importance on understanding the building's location, history, and relationship with its surroundings," he told Dezeen. "The restoration and regeneration work led by David Chipperfield Architects has also played an important role in shaping the district's character."

What does the interior look like?

The store combines retail and cafe functions in two deliberately distinct zones. KAD reinterpreted Rockbund's traditional architecture in metal, translating its decorative language into a contemporary interior.

"Drawing inspiration from the arches and repeated architectural details of Rockbund's historic buildings, we introduced a series of vaulted steel ceiling elements," Ashizawa said.

"Together with the delicate steel shelving, they bring a sense of lightness and openness, while subtly connecting the retail and seating areas, each with its own distinct atmosphere."

The shop area received a "plaster-like finish" inspired by rammed earth — a nod to Xiamen in Fujian province, where Basao originated. "Rather than drawing directly from the traditional tea room, we explored the use of earth, a material deeply connected to tea culture, as a defining element of the interior," Ashizawa explained.

The two halves of the store carry contrasting moods. "The retail area is bright and open, with earthen walls inspired by the traditional rammed-earth architecture of Fujian Province," he said. "In contrast, the seating area features darker tones reminiscent of smoked timber, creating a more intimate atmosphere, much like the living room of a friend's home."

Why brick, bronze and lacquer?

Timber and steel form the primary palette, but KAD laid a brick floor across the retail side, set against a wooden floor in the cafe. The choice ties the store to its neighbourhood, where brick appears on historic facades and occasionally on floors.

"The regular pattern of the brickwork creates a sense of rhythm and order, allowing the material to feel at home in a contemporary setting," Ashizawa said.

Rather than bold colour, the studio leaned on natural material tones and light. Floor-to-ceiling windows feed the airy retail zone, while deeper wood tones anchor the seating area. Bronze-coloured metal finishes reference the historical use of copper in traditional Chinese tea utensils.

The tea room walls carry works of Da Qi Hua, a traditional Chinese lacquer technique. "The artistic concepts reflect Basao's brand identity, while their colours were carefully selected to harmonise with the overall atmosphere of the space," Ashizawa said.

The studio's larger ambition is calm in a loud city. "In a vibrant city like Shanghai, we see value in creating a space that remains connected to its surroundings while offering a sense of calm," Ashizawa said. "One of the most rewarding parts of this project was the opportunity to create such an experience through the culture of tea."

Project credits. Architect: Keiji Ashizawa Design. Project architect: Keiji Ashizawa / Biting Zhu. Construction: Cheng Jiang Building Decoration Engineering Co, Ltd Shanghai. Tile: Yinji Tile Design. Furniture: Karimoku Case. Lighting plan: Aurora Inc / Yoshiki.

KAD's hospitality portfolio continues to grow: the studio previously designed a Nagoya Blue Bottle Coffee shop clad in locally produced tiles and a restaurant drawing on the "whiteness of tofu."