Set within the urban fabric of Satara, the Slit House is conceived on a gently sloping site, where sectional manipulation becomes central to the spatial experience. The defining architectural gesture is a linear “slit” that decisively divides the built mass into two primary volumes. This incision extends through walls and slabs, forming a vertical, double-height void that organizes light, ventilation, and movement throughout the house.
Oriented toward the southwest, the slit acts as a climatic device, drawing in prevailing winds while admitting controlled daylight deep into the interiors. At the ground level, this void is anchored by dense plantation, creating a layered threshold where landscape, light, and architecture converge. Upon entry, the living space is immediately connected to this green core, where filtered light from above enhances a sense of openness and calm. The sacred space (devghar) is strategically aligned within this grid, allowing natural light to directly illuminate it, reinforcing its spiritual significance.
Responding to the site’s slope, the house is organized in split levels. The more private zones—including bedrooms, a meditation area, and a garden—are positioned at a slightly elevated rear level, establishing spatial hierarchy while maintaining visual continuity with the living areas. The living, dining, and kitchen spaces form a cohesive, open plan at the lower level, anchored by a double-height volume.
A suspended wooden bridge traverses this volume, connecting the upper-level bedrooms. This element not only facilitates circulation but also acts as a spatial pause, visually linking different parts of the house while subtly breaking the overall mass. Integrated seating within its monolithic railing further enhances its inhabitable quality.
The front bedroom opens onto an east-facing terrace positioned above the entrance. Shaded by the larger mass to the south and southwest, this terrace introduces a play of volumes on the façade, breaking its scale and creating a dynamic elevation.
Materially, the entrance sequence is articulated using cobblestone and flamed basalt, evoking the experience of moving through a landscape carved out of stone and greenery. The project culminates in a terrace level featuring an entertainment space and a green roof.
Ultimately, the slit is both a spatial and environmental device—dissolving mass, enhancing connectivity, and infusing the house with light, air, and landscape.
