Indian architecture practice Anagram Architects has created a giant slit and angular walls to provide a light-filled hall for a family residence in New Delhi, India. Situated on a narrow 326-square-metre plot, the house was designed for three generations of the family. 

Named Cleft House, the building faces a busy city road in a dense precinct. The design reconciles the acute lack of visual privacy on the site with their desire for an open, light-filled and convivial home that brings together their family and their friends.

The studio's approach steps away from conventional circulation and spatial arrangements, typical to such plotted residences (that share party walls), by considering the built volume as a breached monolith rather than as a composition of fenestrated volumes and surface renders. 

Faceted and insulated stone facades protect the house from the lack of privacy to the front, and similarly the service areas, en suites and closets are planned at the rear to mitigate southern heat gain.

Due to its irregular voids and angular surfaces, the interior surfaces of the building looks towards the light-filled courtyard. When visitors enter in, they are welcomed with a sculptural staircase and endless courtyard that takes natural light. 

In the interior design, the architects created a deep contrast by using variations of materials such as marble, wood and stone. 

Project facts

Project name: Cleft House

Completed: November 2018

Location: New Delhi, India

Site Area: 3512 sqft

Covered Area: 14425 sqft

Civil contractors: Adhunik Infrastructures

Structural engineers: Arohi Consultants

Other consultants: Electrical Electropower

Plumbing consultant: dsr Engineering Services

Plumbing: Rn Aahoo & Aons

Site supervision: Anagram Architects

Model-maker: Inhouse

Project estimate: 8,00,00,000 inr

Initiation of project: November 2015

Completion of project: October 2018

All images © André Jeanpierre Fanthome, Suryan//Dang,

> via Anagram Architects