Rooflines

The pleated roofline adds light and shadow to the bright and airy interiors.

Located in Karuizawa, a popular summer resort town in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture, Four Leaves is a weekend getaway designed to accommodate the homeowner and their guests in a lush, sylvan setting. Designed by Kentaro Ishida Architects Studio (KIAS), the highlight of the stunning, 2,400-square-foot house is its sloping, angular roof sections that are delicately assembled to resemble fallen leaves.

The home's distinct silhouette meets local building regulations while delivering on the client's desire for high ceilings in the upstairs bedroom.

The home spreads out from a courtyard garden in a shape that resembles a hand traced on a sheet of paper. The structure of each “finger” nods to the traditional gable-sided barns that dot the area.

After an award-winning renovation by local practice Seibert Architects, the 1959 dwelling originally designed by architect Ralph Twitchell is up for grabs in Sarasota, Florida.

“We love geometry—we believe it can help us to establish an order between ourselves and nature,” explain Vietnam-based Gerira Architects.

“The parapet makes the building look quite a bit bigger than it is and it creates an idea of mystery – or discovery” says Ben.