18th July 2025, Friday

The Split House / Collage Architecture Studio

A serene dialogue between nature and privacy at this house in Bangalore, India.

Project Name : The Split House
Project Location : Bangalore, India
Architect/Interior Designer : Collage Architecture Studio
Principal Architect/Designer : Swapnil Valvatkar, Adwitha Suvarna, and Arunkumar Deivanayagam

Photographer: Harshan Thomson, Abhishek Chavhan

Nestled within the lush Sunny Brooks community in Bengaluru, the Split-House by Collage Architecture Studio reimagines the family home as a seamless interplay between privacy and nature. Designed for a family of four, the residence is anchored by a compelling architectural gesture — a central “split” that does more than divide; it connects. This void, animated with light, air, and greenery, articulates a balance between the social and the secluded, the built and the organic.

Occupying a generous 80 by 83.5-foot plot, the west-facing home gracefully navigates the site’s natural contours and mature trees. Discreet vehicular and pedestrian entries are tucked into the northwest corner, while a separate southeast entry streamlines access to staff and utility zones. The thoughtful spatial planning prioritizes both functionality and flow.

A south-facing main door opens into a serene arrival court, where a planter and sculptural stairwell establish an atmosphere of calm. A minimalist bird sculpture adds an understated artistic accent. From here, the home unfolds gradually — the living area, enclosed by glazed walls, extends onto an open deck, dissolving the threshold between interior and landscape. The material palette is restrained yet warm: crisp white walls, timber finishes, earthy accents, and verdant views.

At the core lies the defining split — a gravel-lined passage edged by slender trees and anchored by a pristine white puja room. Above, a teak-clad ceiling bridges the two volumes, unifying them under a shared rhythm of light and shadow. The dining area, surrounded by green pockets, sits beneath this bridge — a space of daily communion grounded in simplicity and grace.

The home’s private wing is discreet and fluid, featuring an efficient kitchen and a ground-level master suite that opens into the garden. The spatial narrative continues upward via a sculptural staircase, its cantilevered concrete treads and teak handrail offering both elegance and lightness. The upper level houses a second master suite, a room for the owner’s mother, a family lounge, and guest quarters — each space maintaining a strong connection to both the central void and the surrounding greenery.

Crowning the residence is a terrace that serves as an elevated sanctuary — with a lounge, plunge pool, steam room, and shaded deck for quiet retreats or festive gatherings. A slim bridge elegantly links the two wings at this uppermost level, completing the spatial choreography.

With its calm clarity, sensitive materiality, and emphasis on experiential flow, the Split-House quietly champions a life lived in connection — to nature, to self, and to one another.

Project Name : The Split House
Project Location : Bangalore, India
Architect/Interior Designer : Collage Architecture Studio
Principal Architect/Designer : Swapnil Valvatkar, Adwitha Suvarna, and Arunkumar Deivanayagam

Photographer: Harshan Thomson, Abhishek Chavhan

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