KOU-AN | The Glass Tea House

KOU-AN, The Transparent Glass Tea House by Tokujin Yoshioka at Seiryuden, Kyoto, Japan.

A Transparent Glass Tea House is Unveiled in Kyoto, Japan

KOU-AN by Tokujin Yoshioka has been installed in the mountainside of Kyoto, Japan, at Seiryuden (Blue Dragon Hall), home of the Shorenin Temple. Located on Shogunzuka Hill, Seiryuden is a popular observation spot offering incredible views of the cityscape of Kyoto.

“The transparent glass tea house KOU-AN will enable us to recognize essences of nature and to blend with surroundings. By such experience, we may find the origin of Japanese culture that exists in our sensations, sensing the truth of nature.” Tokujin Yoshioka

The installation, which debuted on April 9th, will remain at Seiryuden until April 2016.

KOU-AN, The Transparent Glass Tea House by Tokujin Yoshioka at Seiryuden, Kyoto, Japan.

KOU-AN, The Transparent Glass Tea House by Tokujin Yoshioka at Seiryuden, Kyoto, Japan.

KOU-AN, The Transparent Glass Tea House by Tokujin Yoshioka at Seiryuden, Kyoto, Japan.

KOU-AN does not have a scroll or flowers which are provided in traditional tea houses, but nature is present throughout albeit through “a sparkling on the floor that reminds us of a ripple of water” or a rainbow of light that appears by the sunlight coming in from the ceiling hitting the prism glass which is placed on the roof.

KOU-AN, The Transparent Glass Tea House by Tokujin Yoshioka at Seiryuden, Kyoto, Japan.

KOU-AN, The Transparent Glass Tea House by Tokujin Yoshioka at Seiryuden, Kyoto, Japan.

KOU-AN, The Transparent Glass Tea House by Tokujin Yoshioka at Seiryuden, Kyoto, Japan.

KOU-AN, The Transparent Glass Tea House by Tokujin Yoshioka at Seiryuden, Kyoto, Japan.

KOU-AN, The Transparent Glass Tea House by Tokujin Yoshioka at Seiryuden, Kyoto, Japan.

Tokujin Yoshioka’s website

| via my modern met