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Every so often, there's a design trend that captures the imagination by blending together nature-centric principles with a modern twist that hasn’t been done before. Enter, the mirror house. A deceptively simple concept that allows a home to seamlessly fade into the landscape in which it’s built—-it’s not over-the-top but it has an understated elegance that feels luxe by nature.
What is a Mirror House?
A mirror house is a habitable structure built with a mirrored glass facade rather than traditional materials to allow those dwelling on the inside unobstructed views of the outside, which reflects its surroundings to provide privacy and an undeniably eco aesthetic. Mirror houses are commonly designed to have a cube shape with a small footprint making them the right size for a novelty compact retreat or nearly invisible backyard ADU.
However, there are plenty of creative examples from around the world that show how these unique structures can also be residential dwellings in their own right. That being said, a mirror house truly shines when it’s built in a private, scenic location where the floor-to-ceiling glass windows can do their job well by bringing the outside in.
Is a Mirror House Eco-Friendly?
The simple yet sustainable construction of steel frame and industrial grade reflective glass gives mirror houses the benefit of being durable and easy to install, especially as a prefab kit or turnkey home like the acclaimed ÖÖD House models. This means less impact on the environment thanks to less building time and transportation of materials that would otherwise make its relatively small footprint a much larger one. A mirror house’s vanishing act is one of the most appealing features, but has been known to be deadly to birds that fly directly into the unforgiving walls. For this reason, many builders and homeowners will add a wildlife-friendly treatment to the exterior of the facade to prevent glares and improve visibility to protect our winged friends a-flight.
Alongside their inherent ability to enhance your connection to the outdoors even while staying inside, these glass-clad sanctuaries often integrate many energy efficient features into the design like LED lighting, thermal insulation, triple-glazed glass, and solar-powered energy. Who knows, maybe even simply knowing about all of these environmentally-conscious details will help you sleep a bit more soundly when you finally fall asleep under a canopy of moon and stars.
Want to experience one for yourself? Here’s a round-up of prefab mirrored homes that you can buy, plus nearly invisible cabins and getaways that blur the boundaries between inside and outside for a surreal escape.
Fade Away In These 8 Mirrored Houses to Rent or Buy
Arcana Mirrored Micro Cabins
Hidden among the lush, forested landscape in Ontario, Arcana offers guests the chance to fade away into nature with a peaceful stay in one of their tiny mirrored cabins. Designed by Lecke Studio and Backcountry Hut Company, the 275-square-foot cabins come equipped with all the necessary creature comforts, amenities, and total quiet of the outdoors you need to restore and recharge.
The MirrorCube
Climb up into one of the most surreal mirrored cabins perched within a canopy of trees in a Swedish forest. This two-person aerie is completely encircled by mirrored walls to give guests panoramic views of the treetops and woodlands below. There’s also a secret balcony…if you can find it.
Sacromonte Landscape Hotel
Four modern minimalistic cabins blend into the rugged scenery of the wild sierras of eastern Uruguayan. Each of the open-plan “refugios”, as they’re called, are clad in one-way mirrors so guests can take in the sights while still maintaining privacy and comfort. The property also has a vineyard and plenty of opportunities to explore the expansive grounds on foot or by car.
ÖÖD Hotels
In addition to their prefab mirror kits, well-known Estonian builders have nine locations worldwide where guests can book a stay in one the vanishing cabins in a stunning, rugged setting. Some of the locales include Iceland, Norway, Estonia, Mexico, and even the US.
The Mirror Houses
A pair of two mirror-clad homes sit in the foothills of the South Tyrolean Dolomites in Italy, positioned to face east to take advantage of the area’s natural sunlight and mountainous surroundings. The homes also feature a skylight to let even more of the outside in, along with an inground pool and private yard.
Invisible House
Set on 90 acres of desertland in Joshua Tree, this famed sleek mirror-clad home made the list as an honorable mention (because, well, look at that nightly rate), and is most likely to remain the stuff of design daydreams for most. For now, you can picture yourself taking in the views from the spacious, wide-open interior, relaxing in the outdoor pool, and exploring the peaks and valleys of nearby Joshua Tree National Park.
Mirror House Prefab Kits
ÖÖD Mirror House
The ÖÖD Mirror House was created by two Estonian brothers who were looking for a smaller solution for modern luxury getaways that blend into their natural surroundings. Now one of the most popular models worldwide, these tiny homes are available to buy as a prefabricated kit with a turnkey design capable of being fully installed in a day. The signature house is a 227-square-foot structure with a mirrored facade covered in reflective UV stickers that provides visibility for birds, available for $125,000. These modular dwellings are also available in larger sizes, along with a mini and mid-sized glass sauna to complete the scene.
Price: Starts at $125,000 USD
Deep Blue Mirror Cabin
The modular home manufacturer makes a compact mirrored cabin designed to be either a short-term rental, accessory dwelling unit (ADU), garden studio, or a private workspace. The 270 square-foot layout includes a bedroom, living, and kitchen area and bathroom, but the interior is easily customizable. Deep Blue crafted its mirror cabin with a durable full steel frame and mirrored facade that’s designed to have a low impact and adapt to any environment.
Price: Contact manufacturer for a quote
Published 11-26-2024
