Teahouse at Taifong Golf Club by Álvaro Siza Vieira and Carlos Castanheira

Nestled within the scenic Taifong Golf Club in Changhua County, Taiwan, the Teahouse at Taifong Golf Club is a masterclass in functional and minimalist architecture. Designed by the celebrated architects Álvaro Siza Vieira and Carlos Castanheira, this small yet thoughtfully designed 72 m² structure serves as a tranquil pit stop for golfers, offering a space to rest, refresh, and enjoy a simple snack.

The architects emphasize that designing for golf requires more than knowledge of the sport; it demands an understanding of the site, client expectations, player habits, and functional requirements. Site visits, observation, and deep engagement with the project context are critical first steps.

"We don’t need to play golf to design the buildings that are required where it is played. But it is necessary to have an understanding of the functions, habits, some rules, and the expectations of the client and the players," the architects note.

The design process begins with basic tools: paper, pencils, colored pencils, erasers, and a model of the site. From this foundation, ideas are tested, refined, and sometimes discarded. Small, rough models are created, continuously developed, and rigorously analyzed. Through this iterative process, the architects arrive at a consensus, balancing creativity with functional necessity.

The resulting teahouse exemplifies how function dominates form, while morphology completes the design. Its architecture is direct and purposeful, a minimalist solution to a simple need. Every line, material choice, and spatial relationship serves the core function: providing a comfortable, inviting space for relaxation within the lush golf course environment.Concrete surfaces, clean geometric lines, and thoughtful integration into the natural surroundings reflect the architects’ dedication to minimalist elegance, context-driven design, and functional clarity. The Teahouse at Taifong Golf Club is proof that even small-scale buildings can embody architectural sophistication while fulfilling a straightforward purpose.

All photographs are works of  C.K.L.