A Mirrored Hideaway Rises on an Extinct Volcano in Central Mexico

Conceptualized as a writer’s cabin, Casa Etérea is an 807-square-foot dwelling (and vacation rental) that fully immerses visitors in nature. Designed by Prashant Ashoka, a Singaporean writer, the house sits on the slopes of an extinct volcano located on the outskirts of San Miguel de Allende.

Remarkably, Ashoka had no prior architectural experience—although the design of the retreat speaks for itself. "The concept was to create a theater to nature," Ashoka explains. "As such, the house is rooted in the idea of sustainability."

The exterior of the V-shaped house is clad in mirrored glass, allowing the volume to take on a transitional quality as it reflects the unfolding seasons. Alluding to this quality, the name Etérea translates from Spanish to "ethereal," suggesting a nebulous, otherworldly sight. Both visually and functionally, the project touches on architecture as site-specific installation art and as an extension of the environment.