cass calder smith creates mirror-clad cube for ideation and escape

overlooking the dense cityscape of san francisco, cass calder smith — founder of CCS architecture — has built a mirrored refuge at the uppermost level of a residential garden. the ‘cube’ is a 10’x10’x10’ reflective mini-dwelling that has been designed for a client as a destination for ideation and escape. at just 100 square feet, the inhabitable object provides a site for both work and pleasure, with seating, a white marker board for brainstorming sessions, and a circular aperture open to the sky for moments of contemplation. 

cass calder smith has designed the ‘cube’ with a ten degree rotation on the orthogonal site on which it sits, placed atop a plateau at the highest point in the client’s garden. overlooking the city of san francisco, the object’s mirrored façade generates fragmented views of the surrounding environment, framing the sky, landscape, and urban sights beyond. a dramatic interplay of light and shadow is cast throughout the course of the day as the sun moves across its reflective exterior skin. 

an entrance at the back of the cube leads into an airy, light-filled cylindrical space with an oculus providing views to the sky. curved seating is made from heated cast concrete, while its interior walls are painted polished white marker board, offering a space for notes and musings. with its mysterious façade that blends into the landscape, and its atmospheric interior expanse, the ‘cube’ becomes a provocative and seductive folly for meditation and ideation. 

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