Want to disappear into nature? Stay in one of these mirror houses

Field magazine

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.