Design Ideas for the Built World

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Seeing Double: The Rise of Mirrored Architecture

Taking camouflage to a new level, some architects have begun experimenting with ways to incorporate mirrors into their designs.  While there are only a few houses on the market that are entirely clad with mirrors, we look at a variety of buildings that have incorporated mirrors as a primary exterior material. 


The Mirrored Hut

image © Jeff Djevdet - Flickr

The Mirrored Hut designed by ECE Architecture was designed to look like a traditional beach house but was clad entirely with mirrors which allowed it to camouflage with its seaside surroundings.


Tree Hotel

image © Nicolas Boullosa - Flickr

Located in Harads, Sweden this Tree Hotel is wrapped around a tree and can accommodate two people with its double bed, small bathroom, living room, and roof terrace. In order to gain access to the cabin, the individuals must use the rope bridge connected to the next tree. 


The Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitors Centre

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The Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitors Centre is camouflaged in an Australian rain forest located in Far North Queensland. 


The Lookout

image © Elizabeth Angus

In their final year of their studies at Glasgow's Strathclyde Univeristy, young architects Ritchie and Tyler designed The Lookout for a site in the picturesque Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.


Leandro Erlich Installation

image © Francisco Gonzalez - Flickr

Batiment (building) is a mirrored installation by artist Leandro Erlich that was part of the display at Le 104 in Paris in 2014. The installation allowed guests to participate in the optical illusion by walking over a painted building that was then projected onto the mirror.


Interested in more mood changing architecture? Check out the projects below or view our design gallery here.

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cover photo © unsplash