From bricks and mortar to glass and steel, there are countless ways to build a house. Yet these shimmering structures prove that going against the grain can have spectacular results. Offering the best of contemporary design, whilst also seamlessly blending into their surroundings, these incredible mirrored homes are dazzlingly different. From a lustrous woodland hideaway to a barely-there abode that melts into its remote desert setting, reflect on the world's best mirrored homes.

Designed by MVRDV and Mole Architects, Balancing Barn is truly one-of-a-kind. Positioned on the edge of a tranquil nature reserve, just a few miles from the Suffolk coast, this contemporary property dramatically cantilevers over the landscape on which it stands. Covered in highly reflective steel tiles, a nod to the metal-clad farm building that once stood on the site, Balancing Barn is surrounded by 138 acres of Wildlife Trust land.

The modern barn features four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a light-filled lounge and a Scandinavian-inspired kitchen and dining area. Adventurous and playful, the property spans 98 feet in one, long rectangle, but instead of simply sitting on its plot, the house was designed to melt into it, reflecting the surrounding topography throughout the seasons. 

Cleverly designed to offer a flexible interior space that can be used for numerous activities, the barn's layout has an easy and natural flow. Its vast rooms are filled with multi-functional furnishings and extensive windows, which allow for unobstructed views across the garden. Oversized sliding doors can also be opened to further extend the living space, while a towering pitched ceiling makes every room feel extra spacious.

Inside, the house boasts ash lined walls and ceilings, reflecting the natural landscape outside, while pops of colour add depth to the home's otherwise stripped-back spaces. There's even a swing located underneath the home's cantilever, adding to the property's unique character. Currently available to rent through Living Architecture, this unique reflective abode highlights the beauty of the natural world.

A rocky outcrop in New York State might not be the most obvious place to construct a new build but architecture firm KieranTimberlake rose to the challenge. Pound Ridge House is the result – the mirrored cladding works beautifully, reflecting the rural forest and bouldered landscape that surrounds the property.

Inside the walls are crisp white, featuring huge swathes of windows interspersed with art. The décor is kept clean and minimalist, while still allowing space for the homeowner's treasured possessions, including their sizeable book collection and a grand piano. ​

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Named after a local strongman, Hercule is a robust concrete structure that balances strength and beauty to stunning effect. Set on a suburban plot in Mondorf-les-Bains in south-eastern Luxembourg, architecture firm 2001 ensured this modern build stands out in an otherwise traditional area.

Another mini mirrored property, architecture firm COULSON’s Disappear Retreat is a movable tiny home with big eco credentials. At just 83 square feet, this passive off-grid home requires no active heating or cooling system. Even in the extreme cold of Minnesota, the Disappear Retreat only requires 100 watts of energy at most to keep it cosy and warm.

Designed to be located almost anyway, this zero-energy, zero-waste structure generates all the energy it needs from solar photovoltaic panels, while reflective glass and weathered wood ensure the building has minimal impact on the landscape. But it’s not a case of substance over style – this nerdy design offers a seriously stylish solution for those seeking an incredible eco home.

While its design may be focused on reducing the environmental impact of day-to-day life, the Disappear Retreat is about appreciating the best of the natural world too. Imagine how magical it would be to lie back in bed and stargaze through this glass roof...

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In this sleek structure, architect Tatiana Bilbao used mirrored glass, rammed earth and clay bricks to build a home that complements its natural surroundings in Monterrey, Mexico. Rather than forcing the landscape to accommodate the house, the property has been built around the rural terrain. For example, instead of removing wayward trees from the patio, tiling has been laid around their trunks.

Believed to be the first mirror-clad house in London, Dominic McKenzie’s Eidolon House scooped the award for the best one-off house at the Sunday Times British Homes Awards in 2014. Located opposite the historic Highgate Cemetery, the name is a play on the mirrored façade and cemetery setting. In ancient Greek literature, 'eidolon' refers to a double image, apparition or phantom.

Eidolon House takes glass and steel Modernist housing to a new level. Instead of using the more typical cladding of rusted corten steel, the architects opted for polished stainless steel to reflect the trees opposite.

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The home's crisp open-plan living space enjoys a contemporary double-sided fireplace and huge windows that overlook the leafy cemetery. White walls and pale grey interiors create a tranquil space to relax and unwind, while the neutral decor allows the outside greenery to be the star of the show.

A prefabricated dwelling, Casa Invisibile was developed by Austrian studio Delugan Meissl Associated Architects as a solution to escalating house prices. Its mirrored surfaces allow the house to become one with Slovenia's stunning rural vistas. The total cost is just £85,000 ($110k) which even includes interior furnishings.

As well as affordability, the property is a flexible and sustainable living space. The prefabricated wood structure has been designed for simple turnkey installation at the owner's chosen site. Plus, the units are made largely from wood so in the future they can be taken apart and recycled.

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In a forest just outside of Minneapolis you’ll find this glass and mirror woodland retreat by ALTUS Architecture + Design. The verdant surrounding scenery – woodlands, wetlands and a stunning lake – guided the design choices on this project to a stunning final effect.

The bunker-style property is made up of three connected wings and is fronted with an attractive courtyard, along with a storage shed clad with panels of polished and mirrored stainless steel. This mirrored shed was primarily built to reinforce the surrounding views and incorporate the natural landscape into the home's architecture.

Green Orchard, a carbon-neutral house in South Gloucestershire, reflects its 8,776 square feet of landscaped gardens by way of the mirrored façade. Created by Paul Archer Design for Paul’s mother, the modern build seemingly camouflages into its green belt location thanks to the huge panels of polished aluminium.

Each panel is well insulated and hooked up to a motorised system that allows the building to quickly transform into a thermally sealed box to brave colder seasons. The high-tech dwelling comprises two storeys, one of which is partially sunken into the site's sloping terrain.

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Surrounded by ancient pine trees, you’ll find The Mirrorcube hanging in a forest canopy, close to the Swedish village of Harads. Designed by Tham & Videgård, this micro holiday accommodation is located just 60km from the Arctic Circle. Built from aluminium and covered with reflective glass, it's accessed by way of a rope bridge.

Designed to blend in with the treetops, The Mirrorcube camouflages into its forest surroundings with mesmerising effect. However, despite being surrounded by trees it’s only attached to one, the trunk of which forms a key design feature inside.

Inside, space is at a premium but it’s the perfect size for a romantic forest getaway for two. The interior is made of plywood and the windows allow for a 360-degree view of the surrounding woodland. Facility wise, there's a double bed, toilet, lounge and even a rooftop terrace. ​

Just 13 feet wide and 13 feet high, this unique treehouse hangout is as cosy as it is cool. While the reflective exterior is beguiling around the clock, there is something extra magical about its facade in the blue-pink dusk light.

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The aptly named Mirror Houses are a pair of holiday homes designed by Italian architect Peter Pichler. Situated on a farm just outside of the Italian city of Bolzano, the reflective homes are adjoined and rented out as guesthouses.

The two holiday homes are slightly different heights, imparting a unique architectural character to each. Otherwise, they offer similar living spaces; both benefit from floor-to-ceiling windows to the east, allowing guests to enjoy uninterrupted vistas of the dramatic scenery. We wouldn't mind waking up to that view every day...

If you look closely enough, you may just be able to spot the Invisible House. Located in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park in California, USA, this mirror-clad property is quite unlike anything you might have seen before. Designed to resemble a New York skyscraper lying on its side, the unique reflective home magically dissolves into its desert setting.

The building was designed by architect Tomas Osinsk and Hollywood producer, Chris Hanley. It boasts a long and slender steel frame that is covered in mirror-like tempered glass. Known as PPG SolarCool Blue low-e, this special glass reduces the home’s carbon footprint to near zero, making it eco-friendly as well as beautiful. Elevated subtly off the ground using concrete stilts, the property appears to cantilever over the desert landscape on which it sits. 

The building’s structural elements do all the talking inside, with concrete floors, an exposed metal ceiling and endless glass walls, which allow for unobstructed views across the surrounding 90-acre estate. There’s 5,500 square feet of inside space, formed from one continuous living room with a kitchen, lounge, dining area and a 100-foot-long swimming pool that further reflects the desert outside.

With three bedrooms and four bathrooms, there’s more than enough space for eight people. A solar hot water system heats the entire house, including the 47,000-gallon pool. Plus, from the comfort of the master bedroom, any lucky guests can enjoy mountain views and endless wildlife watching, including native lions, eagles and coyotes. If you fancy staying the night in this envy-inducing abode, then it's currently available to rent via Airbnb.

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