Makaibari Tea Pavillion, Kurseong
In collaboration with MIANZI
Project Typology: Hospitality
Site Area: 200 sq. m | Built-up Area: 100 sq. m
Status: Built | February 2023
Team QX:
Principal Architect: Udit Mittal
Project Architect: Akash Ganguly
On Site: Rahul Singh | Namsang Limboo
Artisans: Aejmol da and team

Located in the foothills of Darjeeling, Makaibari tea estate is known to be the best quality of organic Darjeeling tea, with its ‘moonshine silvertips’ being costliest tea in the world market. This is supposedly where first tea plant was brought from China to set up the oldest Tea Factory in India, more than 150 years ago. The client having visited some of the famous bamboo structures in Bali, desired to build a bamboo restaurant of his own, nestled in the tea garden, which lives up to the brand legacy and creates an image makeover. The initial idea presented to us was of space with a capacity of about 20 people distributed over 6 tables, along with small souvenir shop, where they could enjoy a cup of tea with a view.

However, once we visited the Heritage Tea Factory in person and did a trek in the forested tea garden, the experience was unlike any other tea estate and made us question the brief, and pitch a uniquely different concept – a more introvert and meditative space, for select guests, causing least disturbance to the rhythm of the tea Garden. We visualised a rather dim space partly lit by a shimmering flame, heating a tea pot in the centre of a small circular table, surrounded by a circular seating for visitors – giving a sensorial experience like that of a Japanese tea ceremony – wrapped in a huge atrium of a soaring bamboo structure, creating a sacred realm. The guests would arrive in awe of the bamboo structure after a two-hour long trek, and carry back this experience as a souvenir for life.