Mirror by Design
Ever since glaziers first developed techniques for producing glass mirror panels nearly 300 years ago, people have been experimenting with ways to use mirror to transform living and work spaces. While its popularity as a design element was in decline for the better part of this century, mirror has recently made a resounding comeback, and architects and designers are once again finding innovative ways to use mirror to solve some of today's most difficult design problems. Thanks to recent improvements in materials and manufacturing processes, mirror is proving to be one of the most cost-effective ways of transforming a room without knocking down walls or installing new fixtures. Through the tasteful and intelligent deployment of mirrors, designers can flood dark rooms with light, make small spaces appear many times larger, and bring healthful natural light and appealing views into otherwise drab, even depressing, spaces. Now, in the first book to treat mirror as a key element in the design process, architect Pamela Heyne takes you on a fascinating and instructive journey through the "looking glass."
She begins with an intriguing tour through the history of the mirror, from its origins in prehistory right up to the present. With the help of 200 spectacular photographs, she demonstrates the many remarkable ways in which mirror has been used over the past three centuries to transform spaces of every size and shape. Using dozens of examples, ranging from the Palace at Versailles to a modern shoe store in New York City, she describes techniques developed by architects and designers to alter perspectives and change the way people respond to both private and public spaces. Ms. Heyne explores the use of mirror in a variety of settings—from bedrooms, living rooms, exercise rooms, and nurseries, to restaurants, lobbies, clothing stores, and hospitals. She offers valuable tech-nical advice on the uses and misuses of mirror in a wide variety of settings and summarizes what is known about the psychological impact of mirror in each setting. She also provides a wealth of practical information on various installa-tion methods and maintenance techniques.
An engaging read and a one-of-a-kind technical reference, Mirror by Design is an indispensable tool for interior designers, architects, home builders and remodelers, real estate agents, and anyone interested in the art and science of design for living.
"The mirror is seen in nature in the surfaces of lakes, in the hollows of mountains, and in the pools deep in the shadow of the trees; in winding ribbons of the rivers that catch and give back the flying birds, clouds and blue sky. A dreary thing to have that element leave the landscape. It may be as refreshing and beautifying in architecture, if architecturally used." —Frank Lloyd Wright
PAMELA HEYNE, AIA, is an architect based in Maryland. She occasionally uses mirror to enhance space and views. Her most recent book is about kitchen design, stemming from a 1989 interview with Julia Child.
