Architectural Evolution and Developmental Phases of Chayxana
Teahouses
Oybek Sadikjanovich Kasimov
a
National Institute of Fine Art and Design named after Kamoliddin Bekhzod, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Keywords: Civilization, Modernism, Decorative, Interior Environment, Decoration.
Abstract: The article explores the significance of teahouses in Central Asia, focusing on their interior decoration and
role in social life. It delves into the historical context of these teahouses, tracing their evolution to the modern
era. The author provides a detailed analysis of contemporary teahouses, highlighting how they have adapted
to present-day needs while preserving traditional elements. Special emphasis is placed on the incorporation
of national identity in the interior design of teahouses, showcasing unique cultural aspects. The article draws
scientific conclusions about the cultural and social importance of teahouses, underscoring their enduring
relevance in Central Asian society. Through this examination, the author illuminates how teahouses serve not
only as places for tea consumption but also as vital social hubs that reflect and maintain cultural heritage.
1 INTRODUCTION
In a general sense, we can say that architecture is a
material and spatial environment created artificially
for the benefit of man, an environment that
simultaneously opposes nature and connects man
with nature. It is necessary to work seriously on the
exterior appearance of the object being designed
before the interior part. In this process, the harmony
of interior and exterior is very important. The biggest
mistake of these specialists is to think about the
internal environment after building the architecture of
the building.
Various complex requirements for architectural
structures sometimes conflict with each other. The
task of composition is to reconcile and unite these
opposites. This means that the same building can be
solved with different compositional techniques. The
architect's skill is to find the best of them. It is the best
composition that simultaneously meets functional,
technical, economic, and aesthetic requirements and
at the same time is distinguished by its harmony,
beauty, organic unity, parts, and integrity in all
connections and relationships.
One such difficult project is the Teahouse from
public buildings. Historically, teahouses have been
considered meeting places for men to gather and
a
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4287-2491
share information, social interaction, friendship, and
brotherhood. It is an invariable part of local traditions.
Teahouses are usually built in cool, shady places
along streams. Because the need for cool places was
felt in teahouses for people to be free, restrained, and
calm. Uzbek men gather around a low table on beds
decorated with ancient carpets (souri) and enjoy
delicious soup, shashlik, and green tea. Tea, of
course, is the national drink of the Uzbek people,
associated with national dishes. Since teahouse food
is fatty and heavy, green tea must be consumed after
it, which helps digestion.
Figure 1: Uzbek teahouses of the 20th century.
2 METHODS
Scientific work has also been done on teahouses.
However, this subject, its interior kitchens, has not
Kasimov, O.
Architectural Evolution and Developmental Phases of Chayxana Teahouses.
DOI: 10.5220/0012975300003882
Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
In Proceedings of the 2nd Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies (PAMIR-2 2023), pages 1465-1470
ISBN: 978-989-758-723-8
Proceedings Copyright © 2024 by SCITEPRESS Science and Technology Publications, Lda.
1465
been fully scientifically studied. Teahouses are
considered to be one of the most important places in
history.
We observe a special appearance in the interior
decoration of the teahouse. The walls of the teahouse
are made of shelves, and the shelves are decorated
with various dishes (bowls, beautifully decorated
plates, teapots, and bowls) and these items are used
(if necessary). Ordinary straw plaster was considered
the main raw material of the interior. The decoration
is very traditional - low tables are surrounded by the
same low-covered carpets and sofas. When entering a
house or a tea house, individuals should take off their
shoes, because it is one of the most crucial traditions.
You are always welcome here and whether you are a
regular guest or a first-time visitor, you will always
be treated with exceptional hospitality and respect.
The proportions of the rooms and their
configuration are of great importance. Random
protrusions and columns spoil the purity of the form,
making it difficult to arrange the furniture.
The interior of a catering enterprise largely
depends on the purpose of the enterprise. Self-service
kitchens require free, open space for non-specialized
cafeterias and fast food.
Open spaces are great for calling customers. The
reason is that finding a comfortable and cool place to
eat on hot days is often considered one of the
problematic situations. Because in the conditions of
Uzbekistan, almost no one likes to eat in closed
kitchens during the hot day. That's why in ancient
times, our ancestors did not set up teahouses on the
banks of streams. But sometimes, if the interior
environment is provided with beautiful conditions,
customers will often go and eat in such places. In
addition, the interior decoration of the kitchen must
please the eyes of people.
The interior of these enterprises is characterized
by naturalness, which includes lighting, low-cost
natural and artificial finishing materials, strictness,
and brevity of details. The interior of restaurants and
cafes located in a beautiful area, close to architectural
monuments or water bodies can be solved based on
the principle of organic connection with the outdoor
space, which is well observed from all parts of the
hall.
The interior of teahouses can be insulated based
on the principle of complete isolation from the
environment. For example, if it is planned to hold
some events in the teahouse, such teahouses will have
a modern view. If the halls are intended for quiet rest
and conversations, such methods as decorative
fences, flowers, and bushes, and grouping of
equipment from high and low floors are used to
separate such places from the general area. Since
teahouses are a place of national public eating, their
interiors will have a unique look.
Today, while redeveloping and improving all
areas of our national culture and art, unceasingly
mastering advanced common values, preserving the
most effective national traditions of our identity, and
being in harmony with the needs of the times in every
area It is considered relevant.. One such area of our
cultural heritage means that we strive to develop from
traditional national crafts to modern tea-making in
Uzbekistan.
Figure 2: R.D. Drawings taken from Asomov's dissertation
on "Types of modern teahouses for the Central Asian
Republics".
The most important element of the program for
the development of socio-cultural services to the
population in public catering establishments is the
expansion and improvement of the network.
When studying the typology of teahouses, it
became clear that the beautiful interior design of the
teahouse also depends on how clearly and beautifully
thought out its exterior is.
In public catering establishments, especially
teahouses, elements of folk architecture are well
suited to national cuisine, and arts and crafts or
interior styles in the national spirit are widely used.
Figure 3: National modern tea house interiors in
Uzbekistan.
2.1 An Artistic Solution to the Memory
of Teahouses in the Countries of
Central Asia
Indeed, teahouses are one of the informational and
social centers of Central Asia. This is the peace breath
of the East, an integral part of the market and the
bustling atmosphere of quiet streets. Drinking tea,
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chatting with friends, having short rest, one-hour
meetings with hot tea are the most interesting cultural
page in the history of the peoples of the East.
Traditionally, tea has been consumed in teahouses
since ancient times. The teahouse is a special place
where you stop the time and talk about everything
calmly and from the heart. The teahouse was a place
to slowly discuss the latest news and plans with
friends, talk with neighbors, and have serious
negotiations. In Central Asia, after the mosque, the
tea house is considered one of the most famous and
most visited places. Currently, the culture of Central
Asia is distinguished throughout the world. Today,
teahouses can be found in many countries of the
world. Teahouses have existed since ancient times
among the Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Turkmens living in
the center and south of this region.
Figure 4: The teahouse.
The soup made in teahouses in Tashkent is very
popular in Asian countries. Teahouses have existed
since ancient times among the Tadjiks, Uzbeks, and
Turkmens who live mainly in the center and south of
this region, and since those times, the way of life
(urban and rural) that they lived until the beginning of
the 20th century, compared to the Kazakhs, Kyrgyz,
and Karakalpaks, has become mainly nomadic, so
there were no traditional teahouses for this area.
In the history of the Uzbek people over the
centuries, folk decorative art has been diverse and
distinguished from the art of other peoples by its
uniqueness. The royal roots of this art go back to the
primitive society. We can see that people's artistic
processing of bodies began in ancient times, that is,
from the Stone Age. As a result of the high attention
paid to practical and visual art and philosophical
approaches, the art of decoration based on symbolism
began to develop. That is why, in Uzbek interiors,
other types of practical art, such as carpentry,
painting, goldsmithing, embroidery, pottery, and
calligraphy, have been formed wonderfully and
admirably in harmony with architecture. All types of
applied and visual arts enrich people's spiritual world,
form their artistic taste, and have a positive effect on
universal education, scientific outlook, and mentality.
3 DISCUSSION
With the introduction of Islam to the territory of
Uzbekistan, images of people, animals, and birds
began to be replaced by Arabic inscriptions and
geometric and unique plastic shapes. As a result, a
style of writing titles with patterns (epigraphy) has
appeared. Together with the patterns, the harmony of
the Arabic script was achieved. Arabic writing also
began to be used in decorations.
The painting art of the Middle Ages has been
popular all over the world since ancient times. The
magnificent buildings that our ancestors saw in the
past have not lost their charm until this day. Patterns
made with high taste amaze both us and foreigners.
Painting as a type of folk decorative art has been
an important part of Uzbek culture since ancient
times. Artistic painting is the art of creating beauty in
color combinations and unique compositions. A
master artist skillfully uses the natural luster of color,
shape, and texture of material to achieve vivid
expression in his work. From the form of copies of
"Almond", and "Pepper", it is possible to create
various unique patterns in folk art, such as painting,
jewelry, pottery, embroidery, and goldsmithing.
In the traditional architecture of Uzbekistan,
painting is mainly used to decorate ceilings, pillars of
palaces, public places such as mosques, schools,
teahouses, houses of the rich, and wooden products.
The rhythmic movement of branches, branches, and
luxuriously depicted flowers in an elegant plant-
geometric pattern, classical patterns of Uzbek
masters, and girikh patterns are adapted to the shape
of the ceilings. The pattern was used to decorate the
interior of the bridge and covered porches.
The pattern compositions of each village and city
are different from each other. Khorezm, Tashkent,
and Fergana painting schools have their decorations
and colors.
The project begins with the study of the planned
construction site. In the process of research, its
condition, climate, and soil samples are studied,
taking into account the fact that the place is an open
area, within the territory of the neighborhood.
Because Uzbekistan is located far from the ocean
and the sea, it has a continental climate due to its
location in the interior of the Eurasian continent. The
characteristic features of the continental climate are
as follows: The sky is clear and sunny; the
temperature is extremely high, the amount of annual
precipitation is sufficient, and evaporation is high;
summer lasts for a long time up to +50°C, it is very
hot, and winter is somehow cold for this geographical
latitude, the difference in annual and daily
Architectural Evolution and Developmental Phases of Chayxana Teahouses
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temperature is large. These features of the climate of
Uzbekistan depend, first of all, on the factors that
create the climate. Therefore, I think that we should
create energy-saving projects in the climate of
Uzbekistan because, in the climatic conditions of
Uzbekistan, they can be widely used in the field of
construction. The reason is that the sun and wind can
be efficiently used.
3.1 Functional Composition Groups of
Rooms
Before starting the teahouse project, the technological
interconnection of the rooms and the functional
composition of the groups of rooms are determined.
Three main processes are characteristic of a teahouse:
receiving and storing products, preparing flour and
confectionery products and delivering them to
customers, organizing customer service in the halls,
and ensuring that all these processes are functionally
interconnected. Functional interdependence is
defined as an established interrelationship that
requires that these interrelationships conform to the
sequence of key processes.
Therefore, the rooms included in the Teahouse
architectural solution are combined into the following
functional groups:
For customers - vestibule, i.e. visiting area
(including cloakroom, washroom, and toilets).
Production - room for hot and cold food stores,
vegetables, and other products; kitchen and dining
room dishwashing room, food distribution and
transfer room.
For receiving and storing products - refrigerated
chambers for storing meat products, fruits,
vegetables, beverages, dairy products, and gourmet
products; inventory, dishes - trays, storage rooms for
dry products and vegetables.
Service and cultural-domestic rooms -
administration room, staff room, staff wardrobe, bed
linen, and rooms for shower and toilet.
Technical service rooms - ventilation chamber,
room for electrical panels, rooms for cooling
chambers.
This artistic and craft-oriented direction tries to
combine all the factors listed above to create a
harmonious project on the exterior and interior sides.
A multi-dimensional approach in all aspects, the
rational choice of thermal protection of
environmental structures, the choice of engineering
equipment, and the efficiency of using renewable
energy sources were taken into account in the design
of a teahouse building that meets the most sanitary
and hygienic requirements, and most importantly, it
is environmentally friendly and energy efficient.
As a result of the research, conclusions,
recommendations, and project proposals were
developed for the comprehensive improvement of the
structure of the construction of a modern
neighborhood tea house.
In the external and internal design of buildings,
solutions that take into account the directions of the
sun and wind, natural materials, the location of
innovative and information technology equipment,
and comprehensive solutions for planting national
traditions and values are designed.
As a result of the comprehensive application of
the principles of "smart house" in ergonomics and
new architecture, design styles in the interior of the
building, the creation of microclimate, acoustics,
audio, video, household, and other devices is
achieved in harmony.
Preservation of national values and traditions and
development of handicrafts are formed by achieving
harmony of spatial, design (rooms, raven, porch, and
courtyard) modern solutions, and artistic solutions.
Table 1: Composition and area of the chaykhana premises.
Premises for visitors
Area, m2
1
Main hall
90 m2
2
Entrance hall with dressing room
18 m2
3
Bathroom
5m2
4
Summer premises and structures
(aiwans, sufas
from the main
idea)
Active recreation area
1
Area for playing billiards and table
tennis.
20m2
Production area
1
Hot shop
25m2
2
Tableware washing room
10 m2
3
Kitchen utensil washing room
10 m2
Administrative and economic zone
1
Room for elders and mahalla
leadership
20 m2
2
Warehouses
2x 18 m2
3
Staff room
10m2
4
Shower and toilet for staff
8m2
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A creative architectural and design harmony
solution is achieved by adopting a form that is
favorable to the effects of the sun, wind, and
precipitation. A combination of national values and
modernity can be achieved in the exterior and interior
solution due to the comprehensive approach to the
comprehensive types of craftsmanship in achieving
the architectural and design harmony solution.
In internal and external solutions, construction,
finishing, energy-saving materials, innovative
technologies, techniques, and equipment are designed
in harmony, so environmental and technological
safety is ensured in the surrounding and external
environment.
Figure 5: "Suv Boyi" teahouse located in M.Ulugbek
district, Tashkent city.
Figure 6: Interiors of the Suv Boyi tea house.
The atmosphere of 50-70 years ago has been
preserved in the interiors of the "Suv Bo’yi" tea
house. Shallow pools are made of plywood on the
ceilings. Made of pressed wood chips (DSP).
Although this raw material is considered natural, glue
is used for it. The top layer of the walls is clay putty
mixed with crushed straw. It is not painted with any
paint, it is self-colored and consists of shelves. The
other sides of the wall are decorated with hand-
stitched Sozana patterns. Blankets, bedspreads, and
pillows are spread on the floor. Although the
chandelier and sofa in the interior are foreign to this
place, they were used in some modern families at that
time. The sofa is specially designed for elderly people
(who have problems with bending their knees). Such
interiors were seen in many ordinary Uzbek houses in
their time.
Figure 7: Modern Uzbek tea house.
Currently, the construction of modern teahouses
and their beautiful interior design is developing day
by day. It has become a tradition to feel the air in
interior decoration and to use every piece of
equipment and decoration in its place. Some, inspired
by wood carving, even use khontakhta and supa
effectively in the interiors, while some have beautiful
interior solutions from national fabrics and pottery
samples.
As is seen in the photo, above photo papers can
also be used in modern tea rooms. He brought the
architecture of Samarkand into the interior through
photographs.
In addition to teahouses, national-style interior
projects are also being implemented in cafes,
restaurants, and public dining places specially. As
people's lifestyle changes, art and culture and other
fields also adapt and get used to it.
Figure 8: Modern interpretation of the national style in
cafes.
3.2 The Appearance of Uzbek
Teahouses Abroad
Figure 9: Modern interpretation of the national style in
cafes.
The opening of Uzbek teahouses in Arab countries is
one of the things we are proud of. Look at the
combination of the Arab direction and the Uzbek
direction, giving a wonderful fairy-tale appearance.
Such an interior with a harmony of colors and a
mysterious appearance will fascinate any person.
Architectural Evolution and Developmental Phases of Chayxana Teahouses
1469
Figure 10: "Aiva" tea house restaurant in Tolyatti.
Figure 11: Teahouse in Murmansk.
If any interior project is implemented on the same
topic, it certainly depends on the region of the globe.
Because the climate, culture, and lifestyle of that
region have an impact on the compositional solution
and color harmony of the project.
Figure 12: Oasis teahouse in America.
Figure 13: "Chaikhana Sato" restaurant in Riga.
A new restaurant of Uzbek cuisine "Chaikhana
Sato" has been opened in the city of Riga, Blaumana
Street, 5a. The three halls of the restaurant are
decorated in a restrained European style, but Uzbek
interior items are used for decoration. As we all know,
Sato is an ancient musical instrument, and these
musical instruments were specially brought from
Uzbekistan. The photos on the walls of the restaurant
were taken by the management of Restconsult
(Aleksandr Slobin and Elena Kashina) during their
cultural and gastronomic tour of Uzbekistan. In
addition, a traditional clay "tandir" was brought to the
restaurant "Chaikhona sato" from Tashkent.
4 CONCLUSION
As a result of the research, the teahouse in the
Makhalla area served as a social center, being the
most visited and widely used space. The community,
as a group, is seen as a uniting place that shares
national values and loves each other.
In ancient times, the artistic solution of
memorization, and comprehensive examples of
national craftsmanship found their place in harmony
with each other in this complex.
Until now, it has been a place of "living heritage"
that promotes the national values, culture, and art of
Central Asia to residents, guests, and tourists.
However, some shortcomings are observed in the
neighborhood tea house, which operates in the life of
modern society.
Teahouses mainly operate only as restaurants, not
enough attention is drawn to oriental values, customs,
and new traditions, and facilities are not created.
There is no integrity in the national traditional
handicrafts and arts in the interior and exterior.
Modern size-spatial, equipment principles and
solution models are required to restore and develop
national values in teahouse rooms, porches, and
courtyards.
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