The House as a Work of Art Reflecting Nature’s Changes Through the Seasons in the Alps.
Mirage Gstaad, a structure that mirrors the shifting landscape of the Alps, was created by American artist Doug Aitken.
The house reflects and interacts with the mountain landscape through changing seasons.
The structure of the house is incredibly unique, reflecting the surrounding landscape through mirrors that cover the entire house, making it appear almost invisible among the fields. The design of Mirage Gstaad is inspired by farmhouse-style homes in suburban California during the 1920s and 1930s.
The house reflects and interacts with the mountain landscape through changing seasons. As the seasons change around it, the mirrors enveloping Mirage House create a dynamic display of the scenery and sky. In the summer, the rooftop reflects the blue sky while the lower part seems to blend into the meadows.
From certain angles, Mirage appears to be part of nature, while from other vantage points, the house resembles a kaleidoscope as the underside of the eaves reflects wildflowers and grass next to the clouds hovering over the mountaintops.
In winter, icicles hang from the roof and snowflakes drift past the windows. From sunrise to sunset, the changing light and weather are reflected on the surface of the house. At night, light from within glows through the uniquely cut windows on either side.
Visitors can also enter the house to admire its beauty up close. Different versions of the house have been placed in Palm Springs, California, and an old bank in Detroit, Michigan.
