The design of Basao reinterprets classical tea culture in contemporary terms. Like in a traditional teahouse, Basao is separated from the street with a garden. Bamboo palms and a Banyan Tree utilises the double height entry. A gentle ramp lifts the visitor away from the bustling street and into the gentle teahouse interior.
Lighting was another point of inspiration for the design. The neighbourhood was home to Hong Kong’s first electrical generator and the streets still bear the names of light-giving bodies; sun, stars, and moon. Taking precedent from the area’s past, ultra clear cast glass windows were introduced to welcome natural light deep into the teahouse. At night, a single spherical lamp, like a full moon, spills light through the cast glass, back onto the alley.