Mirrored structures and surfaces have a way of getting us to slow down and do a second take, as we come face-to-face with a reflected reality. We've seen this architectural trick being used in mirrored tree-cubes, mirrored rooftop homes and even used as a tool for protest.

It works for displaying art too: Taiwanese firm B+P Architects created this mirrored urban space as a small art gallery for a local high school in New Taipei City, using a recycled shipping container. Called “Within The Reflection: The Ark of Art,” the project serves as an extension of the school, welcoming the public to come in and look at students' creative works.

The architects explain their concept behind the project:

What has sprouted is the eternal showcase for the soul. 'School' is the starting point for social lives and modern civilization. This project aims to establish a more diversified environment for creativity, allowing the school to become the aesthetic base for neighboring communities and thus becoming the first step toward starting up an 'Aesthetic Education of Ordinary People'. Taking the layout of school art corners into consideration, we chose to put the container at the far end of the boulevard; therefore, how not to disturb the peace and serenity has become the prime matter in choosing our design method.

The effect caused by the mirror-finished stainless steel boards does seem to make the 33.7-square-metre (362 square feet) space seem to blend in and disappear into its calm, tree-lined surroundings. Rather than loudly imposing itself upon its environment, this container of art seems to allow its environment to inform it, reflecting and giving primacy to what is there already, while its understated interior seems to shelter something unexpected, waiting to be discovered.

There will be some concern about birds flying into this thing, but it is low to the ground, and the problem can be remedied with simple solutions.

For the students too, there is a subliminal message in the ark's reflective quality, say the architects:

At the same time, through the interesting aspects of a 'mirror', we stimulate students to rethink about the relationship between themselves and their environments and to further understand that the observations and reflections on themselves, environments and all things are also a crucial step in creativity.

Article from treehugger.com

by Kimberley Mok