Split House

Location Trivandrum Kerala

Typology Residential

Size 1800 sqft

A layered home in the heart of the city

Built on a compact urban plot in Trivandrum, Split House was designed for a family of four, balancing tight building regulations with the desire for openness and connection. The design emerged from the need to maximize space while fostering interaction and movement across levels.

Spaces are staggered vertically, creating a dynamic internal arrangement. A central light well anchors the home—bringing in daylight, aiding ventilation, and visually linking each level. This void becomes the heart of the house, offering a constant sense of orientation and openness.

The staggered layout ensures that each space connects to more than one other. For example, the dining area flows into both the kitchen and the living space, enabling layered interactions and uninterrupted movement. The staircase, crafted from slender metal elements, serves not only as circulation but as a sculptural form—allowing views to pass through and maintaining the sense of openness.

Balconies are carefully carved into the mass, becoming framed thresholds between interior and exterior. Above, the terrace is imagined as a quiet, open-air retreat—an elevated pause within the urban rhythm.

Split House is a home shaped by light, levels, and lines of sight—an intelligent response to its site and the lives within.