The owner of the outcropping called in the team at Anmahian Winton Architects to design a home and observatory rolled into one. Instead of designing a typical domed structure, the architects instead opted for an angular shape to reflect the building’s jagged granite surroundings. Lock-seamed zinc panels clad the exterior, further referencing the hues of the mountaintop.

Yet the most impressive feature of the structure is its rotating top. This block, which houses the observatory room, can be moved by hand, thanks to a set-up often used in high-precision manufacturing facilities. Then, a hand-cranked sliding hatch can be opened, allowing the telescope located inside to be pointed at the sky.

8 impressive homes that spin with the sun