How To Disappear!

A secluded mirrored house on a mountainside in Mexico called Casa Etérea has become the poster child for the post-pandemic wave of isolationist travel. Designer-owner PRASHANT ASHOKA gives Crystal Lee an insight into its construction.

- Crystal Lee

Perched on the rugged slopes of an extinct volcano off the colonial town of San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico is a house that stands out and blends in, depending on when and where you see it. At dawn, it appears as a gleaming metallic box - its mirrored panels reflecting the soft blue sky, presenting a stark contrast against the semi-arid desert landscape. View it from another angle, however, and the property camouflages with its surroundings, vanishing from sight.

Designed and built by Mexico-based Singaporean writer and photographer Prashant Ashoka, who is also this year's Prestige 40 Under 40 honouree, Casa Etérea (ethereal house in Spanish) is an off-grid, sustainable hideaway for two that has captivated many, including the editors at New York Times, Architectural Digest, Conde Nast Traveller, Forbes, Dwell and more. "The vision was to create a theatre to nature, so sustainability was crucial in achieving a truly complete integration with the environment," explains Ashoka.

The 800-sq ft dwelling features an open-plan concept, consisting of two rectilinear volumes that merge at a 120-degree, V-shaped intersection. Its foundation is built entirely from rock collected off the mountain. The mirrored side of the property is insulated to regulate temperature and treated with a special patterned ultraviolet coating to make it visible to the birds and reflective to humans.

Solar energy powers the house, and rainwater is collected for its water supply. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors not only frame vistas of towering cliffs and deciduous forests, but also provide excellent ventilation. The decked patio and pool area are shaded by olive and pomegranate trees. Inside, exposed ceiling beams and concrete walls celebrate rawness, while a natural palette of jute, leather, wood and stone for the furnishings harmonises with the spectacular view.