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Colouring a brand: The interior palette of Noah's Ark Teahouse

17 Apr 2023

Situated on the famous Cuba Street in Wellington, Noah’s Ark Teahouse is an inviting and charming space. Tropical greens and well-balanced browns and neutrals from the Resene paint range were chosen to embody the client’s brand and message.

When interior designer ZJ (ZhenJian) Ruan was tasked with the job of designing Noah’s Ark Teahouse, he focused on the client’s brand, which has a large focus on sustainability. The primary colours, green and beige, are a continuation of the brand. Used on graphical presentation and products, it made sense to use them within the Cuba Street store for the physical environment too.

“As the sole designer, I was free to fully immerse myself in the creative process and bring my unique design perspective to the forefront,” ZJ says. “I developed a rigorous approach to the design process including thorough planning and research to ensure that every aspect of the project was carefully considered and aligned with the client's goals.

“The selection of Resene paint colours, as well as other installations such as tiles, joinery and furniture, were meticulously selected to create a unified aesthetic.

“This project challenges the status quo of the current nature of the fast-paced beverage industry setup, in which some bubble tea businesses are put up quickly and cost-effectively but with poor quality finishes or installation and with less emphasis on the delivery of architectural enjoyment.”

Located in the heritage Gear Meat Co. Building, considerable time was spent observing the exterior colours and details of neighbouring heritage buildings and shops to ensure a cohesive and considerate look. A selection of interior installations were used to enhance the overall aesthetic, along with a design goal to utilise the branding colour pattern and achieve a vintage atmosphere while offering a fresh look to this new beverage concept in the community. 

“Choosing the right colours for a brand is crucial as they can influence people's perceptions and emotions,” ZJ says. “An earthy tone can be a good choice to convey a sense of nature, calmness and warmth associated with tea. At the same time, it can honour the heritage of the building, creating a strong and memorable brand identity that resonates with the target audience and reflects the project's values and mission.

“By striking a balance between warm and cool colours, an earthy tone can create a soothing and invigorating atmosphere.”

Resene Palm Leaf, a deep rusticated, traditional green, was used on the tongue and groove panelled lower walls, trims and kitchen joinery. The use of this dark shade on the lower part of the wall helps to ground the room as you walk through the doors, as well as stretching up to the ceiling near the seating area to guide you to the comfy couches.

Keeping in mind what customers want to feel when they enter a store is crucial; what will entice customers to sit down and enjoy their beverage? A comfy seat in a cosy corner with a shelf of lush plants or books might do the trick.

A fresh, quiet-natured green was used on the upper half of the walls. Resene Green Spring complements the darker shade below and suits the purpose of the products sold within the store – deliciously fresh drinks.

“The project successfully synthesises heritage and contemporary elements, effectively introducing a new tea concept that represents a modern evolution of traditional methods,” ZJ says. “As a brand, Noah's Ark has always taken its architectural style seriously, emphasising both functional components and fine craftsmanship.

“In this project, this approach was crucial in creating an experience that allows people to appreciate and engage with the architectural quality of the space while also facilitating the business's objectives. The project has effectively communicated the brand's values and vision by striking a balance between form and function.”

A natural leathery neutral, Resene Quarter Mondo, was used on the front doors, columns and walls. This shade blends well with the tones of the street beyond as well as the green shades within. A well-balanced brown, Resene Quarter Pravda was also used on the entire exterior and some spaces inside, tying the colour scheme together seamlessly.

“To achieve a colour hierarchy in the space, we used Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen paints on the walls and a spray application to the joinery panels,” ZJ says. This adaptable product can also be used in wet areas, providing the ultimate durability and dependability for businesses with kitchen areas. 

“The key reason for selecting Resene products was trust, and the product quality and colour pattern from Resene is always exceptional.”

The painting contractor for the store used an exterior timber varnish on the store-front timber finishes, which has improved the overall appearance. If you’re planning to use a varnish, it’s best to use a first coat of Resene TimberLock for a natural look before varnishing, or Resene Waterborne Colorwood. The darker the colour the better, as pigments in Resene Waterborne Colorwood resist U.V. light so provide greater protection.

This project did not go unnoticed. It won the Resene Total Colour Commercial Interior Public + Retail Colour Maestro Award. The judges said: “A warm welcome awaits in this intimate space with a colour palette that has been carefully, sympathetically and beautifully executed in a heritage building. The hues draw inspiration from the steeped qualities of tea with layers of tonal colour that nod to nature. The restful palette offers respite from the bustling street outside, a tempting invitation to simply sit and sip awhile.”

ZJ appreciates Resene's natural tone selection, particularly favouring the green and beige range. Through his experiences with the many colour variants within this range, it’s become clear to ZJ that these hues can establish a sense of belonging within public spaces, which is both distinct and uncommon. 

As with any project, there can be challenges. ZJ says that “the project began with the challenge of operating within a limited budget, while also striving to improve the condition of the space occupied by the previous tenant for over two decades. But despite these constraints, the project proved to be a resounding success, partly thanks to the fortuitous discovery of some last-stock material selections for the tiles and benchtop finishes.

“The outcome is a testament that commercial retail space can be executed to a high professional standard, even within a limited budget, while achieving an aesthetically pleasing result.”

For more information on Wellington-based bubble-tea franchise Noah's Ark Teahouse see their website: www.noahsarkteahouse.com.

interior designer ZhenJian Ruan zj@noahsarkteahouse.com

The deep green and grounding shade of Resene Palm Leaf was used on the tongue-and-groove panelling and skirting, with a complementary shade of Resene Green Spring on the upper walls to brighten the room.

Proving how neutral shades can blend seamlessly together, these green and beige tones are striking and work well to represent the client’s brand. The tongue-and-groove panelling and skirting is painted in Resene Palm Leaf, walls in Resene Green Spring, beams in Resene Quarter Mondo and ceiling in Resene Quarter Pravda.

The tiles used near the counter perfectly matched the store environment and the client’s brand. The tongue-and-groove panelling and skirting are painted in Resene Palm Leaf, walls in Resene Green Spring, beams in Resene Quarter Mondo and ceiling in Resene Quarter Pravda.

A deep rusticated, traditional green, Resene Palm Leaf, was used on the wall panels and trims. The use of this dark shade helps to ground the room, reaching up to the ceiling near the seating area to guide you to the comfy couches. Resene Quarter Pravda was used on the beams and shelf, with greenery placed around the shop to enrich the client’s focus on sustainability and nature.

Everything from the colours to the lighting gives this teahouse an inviting and charming appeal. The neutral and green tones work to represent the client’s brand. Tongue-and-groove panelling and skirting painted in Resene Palm Leaf, walls in Resene Green Spring, beams and front door in Resene Quarter Mondo and ceiling and walls in Resene Quarter Pravda.

An evening view of the teahouse showing the beauty of Resene Palm Leaf in subdued lighting. This dark shade grounds the room and is an inviting colour for a restful seating area. Resene Quarter Pravda was used on the beams and shelf, with plants and wooden features and detailing helping to reinforce on the client’s sustainability mission.

A soft well-balanced neutral brown, Resene Quarter Pravda, was used for the teahouse exterior. This shade reflects the history and heritage of the building and street, and visitors get a lovely surprise when they step inside the tranquil space.

Published: 17 Apr 2023