Six cottages connected by sinuous pitched roofs seek a balance between family unity and the individual privacy of four kin. Surrounded by lush vegetation and with views of Mount Asama, the weekend refuge is located in Karuizawa, a town in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The curving roofs vary in height and direction, engaging in dialogue with the surrounding environment, in a mountainous terrain spanning 5,800 square meters.

Nendo, which runs offices in Tokyo and Milan, distributes the house on a large wooden terrace. Each cottage, measuring 20 square meters, independently harbors a particular use: kitchen dining room, bedrooms, etc. Pale-toned interiors give a feel of weightlessness and breadth, while large openings give uninterrupted views of the forest around.

The house rises rises on a platform held up by circular black stilts to respectfully adapt the architecture to the natural slope of the land. The wooden roof extends outward, effecting a fluid transition between inside and outside. The residential arrangement guarantees each family member a degree of privacy while fostering harmony under one same roof.