Deceptively Reflective: 12 Mirrored Buildings Trick the Eye

Half-Invisible Abandoned Cabin in the Desert

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An abandoned cabin in the desert has become a surreal sight with the addition of alternating mirrored slats, making it seem to half-disappear when viewed from certain angles. Mirrored windows and doors add to the illusion, lighting up at night in a variety of colors with LED lights. Says artist Phillip K Smith III, “Lucid Stead is about tapping into the quiet and the pace of change of the desert. When you slow down and align yourself with the desert, the project begins to unfold before you. It reveals that it is about light and shadow, reflected light, projected light, and change.”

Mirror Houses by Peter Pichler

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The Dolomite Mountains of the South Tyrol region of northern Italy are brought into sharp focus in the dual mirrored west facades of a pair of holiday houses by architect Peter Pichler. The black aluminum-clad east facades feature curvilinear architecture mimic the organic shapes of the mountains, while the combination of a recessed foundation and the mirrors makes the complex appear to float on air.

Reflective Mirror House by Johan Selbing & Anouk Vogel

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A private dwelling merges into its natural surroundings with a facade made of reflective glass. Conceived as part of a small experimental housing project, ‘Mirror House’ by Johan Sebring Architecture and Anouk Vogel uses mirrors as a form of camouflage to increase the occupants’ sense of privacy.

Mirror House by MLRP

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An existing playground pavilion at the Copenhagen Central Park in Denmark gets a fresh update with gable ends lined in funhouse mirrors, making the structure more interactive and creating a transition between the built and natural environments in the park.

Mirrored Elevator Addition to Italian Villa

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A traditional 18th century Italian villa in Genoa gets an unexpected update in the form of a reflective elevator, offering equal access to its upper level without requiring any interior renovation. Sp10 Studio came up with a solution that, while contemporary enough to contrast with the Villa Durazzo Bombrini, is still relatively unobtrusive, reflecting the surrounding gardens.