Shoseian Teahouse
SITE ANALYSIS
MASTER PLANNING
ARCHITECTURE
DEVELOPMENT CONSULTING
INTERIORS
ART & DESIGN
BRANDING
LOCATION: GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
SIZE: 540 SFT
STATUS: COMPLETED
PROGRAM: Interior renovation of a traditional Japanese teahouse situated within Brand Park
The Teahouse — originally designed by architect Hayahiko Takase — is a unique blending of Western and Eastern design, and an apt expression of the spirit of cross-cultural community. Through recent cooperative efforts by the City of Glendale and Friends of Shoseian, the Teahouse was refurbished and established as a Landmark Building by the Glendale Historical Society.
Nestled at the foot of the Verdugo Mountains beside a koi pond in a charming Japanese-style garden setting, the Teahouse is uniquely positioned to serve the community of Glendale and greater Los Angeles.
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The traditional teahouse was built in 1974 through the combined efforts of the Sister Cities of Glendale and Higashi-Osaka, Japan. It is one of the few traditional Japanese teahouses open to the public in the United States, representing the spirit of goodwill, lasting peace, and friendship between the Japanese and American cultures. Given the name "Shoseian" or "Whispering Pine Teahouse" by the Fifteenth Grand Tea Master of the Urasenke School of Tea in Japan, it is designated an official Tearoom.
The renovation was intended to honor the original architecture while refreshing the dated and worn interior. Numerous species of wood were hand-constructed to create traditional finishes throughout. Custom fixtures were also installed, while the original tokobashira—the main post—remained in its authentic and unfinished beauty. BDG's Principal, Ginna Claire Nguyen, designed a layout that blended traditional ceremony requirements with the needs for demonstration space, requiring a unique blend of facilities, flow, and ample hidden storage.
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