List & Detail views on same page

I have built a component with CC. It has a list view (Contacts) and a details view (Contact). When an item in the list view is clicked, the details view should show in the same page, not a new page.

So, I want to show the details view, in a column to the right of the list view. In other words, each details view should have a searchable list view, in a column to its left. Do you have any clues how this can be done?

I can write php competently, so I only need some direction because I just cannot figure out what would be the correct/best way to do this.