Mirrors in Architecture: unfailing impact

Amazing impact, considering it is a public funded project for public consumption. Innovative medium of design, compared to the regular colours-and-plastics routine applied to children’s play areas. This mirror house in a Copenhagen park is essentially a minimalist renovation and restoration of an existing, old and depressing gabled structure. MLRP Architects have dramatically transformed this into an inviting, attractive, fun place for kids and adults, using the simple mirror. The huge mirror polished stainless steel on the gabled ends reflects the verdant park surrounds making the structure visually merge into the landscape. The roof and facade, clad in heat-modified wood, have shutters which open up during the day to reveal different bent fun mirrors which entertain kids by creating funny reflections. A real fun spot for kids who play at the park, attend classes or use restrooms inside the Mirror House. A wonderfully attractive public space for the city.

“A reflection of the surroundings....through minimal intervention” are some words used by the project architects to describe their masterpiece. That really sums up what is required of a heritage conservation project, doesn’t it? And it is done using a simple mirror!  The brief was to open up the Vieux Port, the waterfront in Marseilles, to all the citizens by creating an events space to commemorate the city’s celebration of its position as the ‘capital of European culture’. The solution by the UK based architects, in collaboration with landscape architect Michel Desvigne and Tangram Architects, was a visually paper thin sheet of mirror polished steel supported on eight slender columns. The pavilion is wonderfully inviting, people enjoy looking up at this massive reflection of them and their surroundings. From afar, it looks like just a silver lining in the horizon. A simple mirror creating an impactful drama.

A mirror clad, luxury Machaan! What’s more, it’s difficult to spot among the trees in the forest! The tree hotel designed by Tham + Videgard Hannson Arkitekter in the forest near Harads, in northern Sweden makes the perfect environ sensitive, minimal yet impactful design statement. Each unit is a lightweight aluminium structure suspended around a tree trunk, clad in mirrors on all surfaces. Approached by rope ladders and rope bridges, it offers a living room, double bed, bath, kitchenette and terrace in terms of accommodation. Windows offer 360 degree views from the inside and the exterior is a simple mirror clad cube, camouflaged by the reflected forest. 

The magical mirror remains simple to use, impactful and appealing from the past to the present. As an instrument of harnessing renewable solar energy, it enjoys refreshing applications today and in the future. It surely finds a prominent place in the list of materials in the future of design