In 2013, when a decaying wood shack in the middle of Joshua Tree National Park was transformed by visual and conceptual artist Phillip K. Smith III into the installation Lucid Stead, the internet went wild. Long, strip mirrors replaced alternating planks of the cabin, resulting in a space that was half there, and half not. Not too long after, another mysterious structure appeared in Coachella Valley: Part of the contemporary art exhibit Desert X, Doug Aitken’s Mirage was a ranch-style house completely clad in mirrors.

The success of the two projects reflect (pun intended) the allure of mirrored glass as an architectural surface. Below, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite mirrored exteriors.

Nestled in the rugged mountains of Maldonado, Uruguay, the Sacromonte Landscape Hotel by Montevideo–based firm MAPA Architects is comprised of a winery, a farm-to-table restaurant, and 13 prefabricated cabins with one-way mirrored facades. In addition to the use of prefab construction for minimal site impact, the modular steel-framed cabins are also fitted with low-E glass, green roofs, and are connected to an eco-friendly wastewater treatment system." layout="wide" credit="Photo by Leonardo Finotti" photoUserId=""/>

The World’s Most Beautiful Outhouse Is a Mirrored Cube in the Australian Bush

In Australia’s Kangaroo Valley, Madeleine Blanchfield Architects created the Kangaroo Valley Outhouse—a demountable cube wrapped in reflective glass that provides services for a small cabin available for overnight stays. The glass is mirrored on the outside but see-through on the inside. The interior features a freestanding tub and shower, as well as a toilet and hand sink." layout="wide" credit="Photo by Robert Walsh" photoUserId=""/>

This $22K Tiny Glass Prefab Makes the Perfect Home Office or Backyard Guesthouse

This Mirrored Prefab Is Chock-Full of Herman Miller Furniture

These 14 Cabin Floor Plans Will Make Your Outdoorsy Dreams Come True

A Mirrored Mexican Home Hides Among a Lush Forest

These Forest Cottages in Ukraine Reflect the Great Outdoors

This Mirrored Cabin Playfully Brings a Forest Indoors

This Sleek Desert Home Seems to Melt Into the Sky

An Architect’s House Gets a Reflective Addition

A Minimalist, Mirrored Haven in the Netherlands

This Mexico City Hotel Showcases of Local Design

This 194-Square-Foot Modular Hotel Reflects the Snowy Estonian Landscape

A Mirrored Hideaway Rises on an Extinct Volcano in Central Mexico

A Prefab Hotel in Uruguay Seems to Melt Into the Landscape

The World’s Most Beautiful Outhouse Is a Mirrored Cube in the Australian Bush

This $22K Tiny Glass Prefab Makes the Perfect Home Office or Backyard Guesthouse

This Mirrored Prefab Is Chock-Full of Herman Miller Furniture

Also Appears In

Mirror Mirror