28/01/2016 – In Sydney, Matt Woods reimagined the tea house for The Rabbit Hole, drawing on the Japanese art of kintsugi and the industrial character of the existing site. The space pairs concrete floors, brick walls and exposed timber ceilings with a more delicate ritual around tea.
Kintsugi is the practice of repairing broken ceramics with lacquer mixed with powdered gold, turning damage into a visible part of the object’s story. In The Rabbit Hole, that idea appears in the use of broken ceramic tiles across the service areas and the central counter.
Above the bar, custom kintsugi bowls sit lightly on turned oak supports, creating a display for specialty teas. The image recalls spinning plates and gives the tea counter a theatrical quality without losing the simplicity of the materials.
White-painted sheet-steel panels and micro-perforated partitions define the smaller areas of the room. Upholstered seating, oak details and recycled paper surfaces add warmth, while large north-facing windows bring in generous natural light and keep the atmosphere bright.
Peter Dark
miranda_shida
Anna Lohan
