Spotlight on Glamping Structures - Mirror Cabins
DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE AT A GLAMPTUARY, MIRROR CABINS ARE EMERGING AS ONE OF THE MORE POPULAR GLAMPING STRUCTURES AROUND THE GLOBE.
IN THIS ARTICLE, WE’LL EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF TRANSPARENT MIRRORED STRUCTURES, WHICH WERE INVENTED OVER 120 YEARS AGO. WE’LL ALSO REVEAL THE MANUFACTURERS WHO ARE LEADING THE CHARGE FOR MIRROR CABINS, AND WE’LL HIGHLIGHT SOME GLAMPTUARYS AROUND THE WORLD THAT HAVE EARNED A SPOT ON OUR BUCKET LIST.
Location - CAMERON RANCH GLAMPING - Coldspring, TX
New glamping structures are continuing to emerge as the outdoor hospitality industry grows at a rapid rate.
While many new glamping structures are rooted in old world designs, mirror cabins embrace modernism and have a habit of either standing out… or blending in…. depending on the surrounding environment.
Mirror cabins are definitely one of the new kids on the block, but the technology behind transparent mirrors is over 120 years old.
Transparent mirrors are mostly known to the general public for their use in surveillance during a police investigation.
Who’s behind the glass Superman? - Photo - “Man of Steal”
Emil Bloch holds the patent for the “Transparent Mirror,” which was filed in 1902 and awarded in 1908. The Transparent Mirror’s use in surveillance was the primary reason behind Emil Bloch’s invention.
Success reflected in its simplicity
Since its inception, the transparent mirror has evolved into more pedestrian uses in art, hospitality and commercial construction.
Architects Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo began using two-way mirrors in their designs back in the 1960’s, which brought a modernist approach to their work. Their fusion of exposed steel, cement, mirrors, and glass paved the way for much of what we see in modern city skyscrapers and office building interiors.
Artist Dan Graham was a pioneer in creating structures that utilized the properties of glass and mirrors to blend into the environment. His “Pavilions” series, which he started in the 1970’s, involves the use of geometric shapes, glass, two-way mirrors, and the surrounding environment to create immersion experiences for guests at his installations.
Artist Dan Graham
Taking inspiration from the likes of Roche, Dinkeloo, and Graham…designer/architects Bolle Tham and Martin Videgård designed the Mirror Cube in 2010.
The Mirror Cube which is available to book as part of the Treehotel in Sweden
The Mirror Cube, which is part of a collection of treehouses for public booking at the Treehotel in Sweden, was the first of-its-kind glamping structure to use transparent mirror technology.
Since the introduction of the Mirror Cube into the world of glamping, there are a collection of manufacturers who are leading the charge in mirror cabin production for other Glamptuarys around the globe.
The most active manufacturer by far is ÖÖD House, based in Estonia, and led by Jaak and Andreas Tiik.
Their projects range from residential to commercial, and they are the largest provider of mirror cabins in the world.
Another design firm to take note of is Deep Blue, who seem to focus on larger commercial buildings and dabble in the glamping space.
There’s no shortage of glamping options out there as the popularity of mirror cabins continues to grow. To peak your interest, we’ve compiled a shortlist of Glamptuarys below that we’re adding to our bucket list.
CAMERON RANCH GLAMPING - COLDSPRING, TX
PARADISE RANCH INN - THREE RIVERS, CA
BOLT FARM TREEHOUSE - WHITWELL, TN
WONDER INN - NORWAY
ARCANA - ONTARIO, CANADA
MALA VILA - STARI GLOG, CROATIA
ARBIKIE - MONTROSE, SCOTLAND
A prime directive for any Glamptuary is to immerse guests in nature with sanctuary experiences. Mirror cabins offer the chance to safely immerse oneself in nature, while still enjoying privacy and security.
We hope you get the chance to experience one of these beautiful installations. Just be sure to approach slowly as they may be hard to find in certain instances…
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