To some observant passers-by, the intriguing timber house with subtle Asian influences perched on a wooded property outside of Asheville, North Carolina, is referred to as the “Japanese house.” To others who are lucky enough to get a glimpse inside the home, it’s the “ninja” or “chess” house. But its official moniker is Kotanaru Kyūden, which translates from Japanese to English as “Palace of the Different One.”
The “different one” in question is Dylan Topol, the homeowner who had dreamed of the unusual abode long before it finally began to take shape. A fortuitous encounter with architect Ken Wertheim,
