Concrete Slit House

The Concrete Slit House in Nanjing, China by architect Zhang Lei

Surrounded by traditional Chinese brick homes, the Concrete Slit House takes the iconic house shape and strips it down to its essential form.  Zhang creates a solid minimalist block and then subtracts deep set openings, including a zig-zag cut that seems to cleave the house in two.  Instead of traditional brick, Zhang uses concrete, but patterns the surface as if it were made of brick.

The interior is outfitted with custom wood built in furniture to keep the space spare and as unadorned as the exterior.  The interior reflects the shape of the exterior by eliminating dropped ceilings and most interior partitions, allowing one to experience the sculptural quality of the space.