This Ultra-Minimalist Concrete Residence Is Carved Into Solid Rock

The house was inspired by the monumental rock-cut tombs of Saudi Arabia’s Mada’in Saleh.

Paul Keskeys

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Architect and architectural photographer Amey Kandalgaonkar has designed a radical proposal for a private residence in the desert. “House Inside a Rock” inserts exposed concrete planes into an enormous boulder, carving out space to create an abode that blends the language of Modernism with the ancient architecture of the Middle East.

Shanghai-based designer Kandalgaonkar was inspired by the rock-cut tombs of Saudi Arabia’s Mada’in Saleh, monumental structures carved into solid stone in remote, desert locations.

The artist’s contemporary iteration draws on the clean concrete style of architects such as Tadao Ando, while its cantilevering volumes echo the aesthetics of Fran Silvestre Arquitectos.

Kandalgaonkar has fun with conceptual projects on his Instagram page ameyzing_architect, where he experiments with modern interpretations of ancient architectural typologies. Other projects include a future vision for an Indian stepwell, and a contemporary twist on the traditional Chinese pagoda.

For more outlandish renderings, check out Alex Hogrefe’s sublime Cliffside Retreat and the precariously cantilevered cocktail lounge over Mexico’s Copper Canyon, designed by Tall Arquitectos.

Architects: Want to have your work featured on Architizer? Here’s how to upload your projects. Don’t forget to sign up for our inspirational newsletter.