AZL architects carves a concrete block into the slit house

AZL architects carves a concrete block into a slit house
image © iwan baan

amidst a neighborhood of aging gray brick and weathered walls in nanjing,  local studio AZL architects molds a contemporary home made entirely of concrete. formed from 5 centimeter wood planks that match the proportions of the neighboring masonry, the solid house is dramatically torn in half revealing a chasm that responds to interior circulation and provides an opportunity for unique views and natural light to the spaces inside. the three story structure is partially embedded into the ground accessed by a sunken courtyard. 

aerial view
image © iwan baan

rooms enjoy a relative freedom in dimension as a series of half levels and double-height spaces allow the program to extend beyond the traditional walls that define it. the living room claims two levels, for example, and the dining area occupies one and a half floors, with the bedrooms and offices located within a single story. to contrast the hard exterior shell of the building, wooden fixtures and wall finishes paired with white walls make it a livable abode enjoying plenty of natural light and cross ventilation.

entrance elevation
image © iwan baan

side elevation
image © iwan baan

a wooden deck wraps around the property
image © iwan baan

image © iwan baan

image © iwan baan

image © iwan baan

in context
image © iwan baan

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project info:

location: nanjing, jiangsu province, china
architects: zhang lei / azl architects
project team: zhang lei, meng fanhao, cai menglei, lu yuan, tang xiaoxin collaborator: architectural design & planning institute, nanjing university
project area: 270 sqm
photographs: iwan baan