The Mirror & Dark Matter Cubes

Inspired by the Delaval’s love of theatre and trickery, Studio Hardie developed designs to reinvigorate the landscape ‘spirit of place’ and to reflect the Delaval’s extravagant lifestyle. The installations were carefully placed in the South East Garden, as part of a journey of mystery which would be revealed travelling through a series of spaces. The structures reveal and distort on approach, engaging people of all ages.

The Mirror Cube

Set in a birch grove, the mirror cube reflects its surroundings creating an infinite birch forest and a carpet of dark understory planting. The mirrored form of the installation disappears on approach. Studio Hardie commented ‘Within the cube is an accessible mirror maze, drawing the birch grove in and through its angled mirrors. The maze appears infinite with several surprises, assumed walls don’t exist whilst openings appear closed. The cube’s visible surfaces are entirely clad in highly polished stainless steel mirror, distorting and reflecting the surroundings. The ceiling is slatted aluminium composite allowing rain and light to fall through the structure’.

The Dark Matter Cube

On the same axis of the formal path, nestled in a shaded woodland area, the Dark Matter Cube reflects the mirrored cube. The cubic form is defined by pleached hornbeam trees, replicating the same form as the mirrored cube. Studio Hardie Commented ‘Holding their leaves in winter, the carefully shaped upper cube absorbs light, whilst the mirror reflects. In the centre of the cube is a star shaped mirror that is positioned and angled so that it creates an infinite forest of tree trunks under the pleached top. Whilst the mirror cube reflects its surroundings, the dark matter cube reflects itself, creating an infinite forest within. The mirror is free standing and constructed from highly polished stainless steel mirror’. Shade tolerant planting surrounds the installation which is reflected by the star shaped mirror creating a warped experience.