casa etérea is an off-grid glass house set on the slopes of an extinct volcano in mexico

‘casa etérea’ is an off-grid glass hideaway for two, situated on the slopes of an extinct volcano 20 minutes from san miguel de allende, mexico. the brainchild of mexico-based singaporean writer and designer prashant ashoka, the house is clad in a mirrored façade that reflects the surrounding landscape, while interacting with natural light as it changes over the course of each day. the dwelling draws all its power from solar energy and its water supply from collected rainwater, while the exterior mirror panels are clad in patterned ultraviolet coating, making it visible to birds while remaining reflective to the human eye.all images © kevin scott & prashant ashoka

prashant ashoka developed the design of casa etérea with very limited resources, managing the entire construction process on his own. ‘the vision was to create a “theater to nature” so sustainability was crucial to achieving a truly complete integration with the environment,’ the writer and designer explains. influenced by the concept of ’emotional architecture’, coined by architect luis barragán and sculptor-painter mathias goéritz, the dwelling achieves a deeper sensory resonance by using mirrored panels to create a visually abstract and interactive experience.

casa etérea is designed without partition walls, offering one large room complete with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that frame wide views of towering cliffs. outside, decked patio area and solar-heated pool are surrounded by olive and pomegranate trees. the mirrored façade blurs the boundaries between the surrounding nature and the building, while natural light becomes a structural element of the design as it reflects on the home’s exterior.

‘I wanted this interplay of light and scale to evoke a deep sense of awe and oneness with the wild, and to ultimately beg questions about our role as stewards in the preservation of our ecosystems,’ notes ashoka. ‘as it catches first light, the house gleams as a phosphorescent blue-tinged box, standing in glassy contrast against the felted nocturnal blackness of the mountainside. and in the ombre hues of sunset the volume scintillates against the landscape like a mirage, before disappearing entirely – its structural boundaries never once attempting to alter the surroundings in which it sits.’