Studio Yimu's Flagship Tea Shop: A Blend of Art and Architecture

Unveiling the Inspiration and Innovation behind Toronto's Iconic Tea Shop

Studio Yimu's flagship tea shop design draws its inspiration from the free-flowing silhouette of the famous Canadian Blue Mountain. The design replicates this natural form to create an unconventional and ambiguous seating area, offering a novel customer experience. The shop's most popular drink, the fresh mango slush, is also incorporated into the design as an interactive element, engaging every customer who walks in.

The shop's unique properties lie in its strategic location in Canada's busiest shopping mall, the Eaton Centre. The store, situated outside the subway on the first floor of the mall, boasts a wide and welcoming entrance, making it a hotspot for shoppers to gather and meet. The design, specifically crafted for branding purposes, sets it apart from other stores.

The design realization of the project involved three main phases: the wall background, the millwork solid surfaces, and the entrance. The wall background, built with blended ashwood slates and solid surfaces, harmoniously mirrors the Canadian natural landscape. The millwork sculpture, handcrafted with locally sourced Canadian ashwood, adds a three-dimensional depth against the wall background, enhancing the customer experience. The minimalist signage at the entrance maintains the atmosphere and perception created by the millwork and wall background.

The project's technical specifications include a floor area of 139sqm and a 5mm wiggle board with a veneer finish as a backing of the ashwood slates. The logo, engraved into the solid surfaces facade at a 3mm thickness, allows light to penetrate through for a clearly lit sign. The overall solid surface and bulkhead are rounded off with a thermal forming technique, creating a harmonious combination throughout the store and the shopping mall.

Studio Yimu faced creative challenges in mimicking the Canadian landscape and the shape of a mango through the millwork sculpture. Achieving the desired curves and form of the sculptures while maintaining a functional seating area was a significant hurdle. However, the design team successfully overcame these challenges, resulting in a functional, aesthetically pleasing, and interactive piece that resonates well with the target audience of ages 16-30.

The flagship tea shop design by Studio Yimu, which started in May 2018 and completed in August 2018, has been recognized for its creativity and professional excellence. It was awarded Silver in A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2021, a testament to its outstanding expertise and innovation. The design not only introduces positive feelings, amazement, and wonder but also sets a new benchmark in the field of interior design.