Architects are continuing to push the boundaries of what's possible when it comes to three-dimensional structures, and these illusory architectural designs are some mesmerizing examples of how the use of optical illusions can create a mind-boggling appearance.
While illusory techniques and deceptive appearances are often aspects found in magic tricks and children's toys, these unique architectural designs are taking that concept to the next level by using optical illusions in the structural design. Creating beautifully whimsical pieces of art that are initially quite deceiving to the eye, these illusory architectural designs are encouraging viewers to look more closely to examine what truly lies behind these deceptive facades.
From buildings that appear to be floating above land to psychedelic interior spaces, these illusory architectural designs are sure to have people visually consumed by the variety of optical illusions.
62 Illusory Architectural Designs
From Faux Floating Homes to Optical Illusion Structures:
Tana Makmanee — Oct 21, 2013 — Art & Design
62
Optical Illusion Structures
The Reframe Art Installation Features Multiple Perspectives
61
Deceiving Prison-Like Homes
This House by Phyd Arquitectura in Moreira is a Captivating Creation
60
Real-Life Pixelation Art
Stephane Malka Rue Sans Frontieres Installation is Truly Compelling
59
Illusory Modern Architecture
House by Kouichi Kimura Architects is a Study in Depth
58
Escher-Inspired Lofts
The Switch Box in House is a Mind Puzzling Space
57
Mirrored Indoor Slide Abodes
The 'Skyhouse' By David Hotson x Ghislaine Vinas is Incredible
56
Playful Portuguese Interiors
The Remodeled 227 Flat by OODA Merges Acrobatics and Architecture
55
Fighter Plane-Inspired Canopies
The Stealth Pavilion by Paul Segers is Strong and Masculine
54
Extensive Spiralling Sculptures
Sity by Sonik Module Wraps itself Around an Urban Park
53
Reflective Funhouse Facades
Mirror House by MLRP Features a Playful Exterior
52
Dizzying Contortionist Towers
The Wavy GT Tower East by ArchitectenConsort is Fascinating
51
Slender Circular Structures
The Aldar Headquarters by MZ Architects is Located in Abu Dhabi
50
Reflective Polyhedral Architecture
Manifold Masses Explores the Contrast of Solid and Void
49
Wavy River Walkways
The Maribor Footbridge by Ja Studio & Tadj-Farzin Studio
48
Faux Floating Homes
The Two Islands Mark's House is Made to Appear as If It is Mid-Air
47
Angular Stairway Stores
The Design Collective Shop Features Geometric Elements
46
Inverted Pyramid Architecture
The Phenomenal GMP Architects Design for the Hanoi Museum
45
Fragmented Glass Facades
The Cluj-Napoca Art Center Breaks Down the Architectural Norm
44
Illusory Imploding Interiors
'PuLSaTe' Uses Op-Art Architecture to Create a Captivating Showroom
43
Reflective Mountainside Residences
Conference Crystal Iselsberg by MHM Architects is Breathtaking
42
Red Winding Walkways
West 8 Architects' Twist Bridge Inspires Imagination in a Functional Way
41
Controversially Exploding Architecture
The Cloud by MVRDV Looks Like a Tribute to the Twin Towers
40
Mirrored Limestone Extenstions
The House at Goleen by Niall McLaughlin Architects Extends Hillside
39
Aperture-Focused Architecture
The Knuckle House Uses Unconventional Windows to Maximize Light
38
Quarry-Crossing Reflective Resorts
Coop Himmelb(l)au Won the Dawang Mountain Resort Commission
37
Tidal Wave-Inspired Structures
The HENN Architects Porsche Pavilion is Curvaceous
36
Reflective Coliseum Structures
The Ring Installation by Arnaud LaPierre and AUDI is Optically Bold
35
Pristine Prismatic Buildings
The Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland Toys With Geometry
34
Optical Illusion Interiors
The Bangkok University BU Lounge Pushes Perceptive Boundaries
33
Ice Cove Boutiques
Runway Store by CLS Architetti Experiments With Chilly Design
32
Metallic Couture Wallpaper
Module H by Shigeru Ban Joins Forces With Hermès to Create Home De
31
Glimmering Architecture
The Swarovski Store in Japan
30
Optically Deceiving Shops
The Camper Lyon Store Features Architectural Drawings
29
Illusion-Inspired Buildings
The Palaon Research and Experience Center can Disappear
28
Geometric Illusion Photography (UPDATE)
The Incredible Photos by Georges Rousse Manipulate Reality
27
Mythical Reflective Structures
'The Stone' is Inspired by the Legend of King Arthur
26
Perception-Popping Planes
The SimmINN Flight Simulation Center in Stuttgart, Germany is Dynamic
25
Illusive Self-Reflecting Skyscrapers
The ‘Tower Infinity’ will be the World’s Ta
24
Peeling Architecture
Camenzind Evolution Design Creates Swirling Cocoon Offices
23
Optical Illusion Walk-Throughs
The Trillusion Installation by Boris Banozic is Visually Intriguing
22
Fake Floating Residences
The Dune House Boasts an All-Glass Bottom
21
Floating Waterfront Museums
The Astrup Fearnley Museet is Set in Oslo's Canals
20
3D Polycarbonate Portals
Reframe for the 2012 Festival of Lively Architecture is Cube-Shaped
19
Optical Illusion Architecture
This Solar Powered Home Attempts to Trick the Eye
18
Fascinating Illusory Facades
K-Studio Designs Building for Moda Bagno-Interni Store
17
Iconic Optical Illusion Architecture
Vicente de Paulo Manipulates the Work of Oscar Niemeyer
16
Transparent Sin City Abodes
The Veer Towers Give Residents an Unfettered View of Vegas
15
Streamlined Sci-Fi Garages
The Herma Parking Building by JOHO Architecture is Futuristic
14
Whimsical Work Environments
The 'Ocean of Dots' Office by Matsuya Art Works is Dynamic
13
Transparently Layered Interiors
The Urbatek Showroom by CuldeSac is Modern in its Design Aesthetic
12
Rainbow Illusion Art
The Deconstructing Ways Project Takes Streets Apart to Create New Ones
11
Fable-Inspired Office Interiors
The UXUS HQ Features a Mysterious Black Door
10
Mirrored Work Spaces
The No Picnic Office Looks Like an Open Dance Studio
9
Human Hibernation Pods
‘The Alpine Capsule' Mimics a Giant Drop of Mercury
8
Mirrored Canopy Structures
The Port Vieux Pavilion is Reminiscent of Chicago's Cloud Gate
7
Hallucinogenic Teapot Decor
The T-Magi Store's Perforated Optical Illusion Wall
6
Reflective Surface Residences
The Mirror House by Ekkehard Alteburger is Narcissistic
5
Caged Communal Cafes
The Scarpetta Dining Pavilion Is Chic And Elegant
4
Fenced Geometry Enclosures
The Landscape Fence by Heri&Salli is Awe-Inspiring
3
Illusory Illustrated Architecture
Productive Ambiguities Shapeshifts with Surface Effects
2
Reflective Public Art
Crystal City Mind
1
Kitschy Nightclub Retailers
The Shoebaloo by MVSA Fuses Footwear Shopping with Dancing
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Illusory Doll-Like Heels
Louis Vuitton's Illusion Boots are Cleverly Shaped and Hand-Painted
Ultra-Modern Apartment Designs
No Architects Created a Multi-Functional Modern Apartment
Futuristic Capsule House Concepts
The ONCO Capsule House Concept is Sleek and Minimal
AI-Generated Interior Detailing
Tsuruta Architects Accents This House with AI-Generated Engravings
AI-Generated Real-World Transformations
AI-Artist Who Gives a Unique Design to Real Objects
Illusory Multidimensional Lamps
The 'Drop Light' from SWNA Prioritizes a Shifting Perspective
AI-Generated Retrofuturistic Objects
Vadim Sadovski Uses Midjourney AI for This Series
3D-Printed House Neighborhoods
EYRC and Mighty Buildings Develop the Suburbs of the Future
Cube-Combining Tiny Homes
This Unique Tiny Home Uses Modular Spaces to Enable Flexible Use
Plant-Filled Latticed Buildings
Wallflower Architecture + Design Creates the Touching Eden House
Floating Meditative Pavilion Designs
The Crystal Lake Pavilion by Marc Thorpe Design is Tranquil
Glass-Reflective Illuminated Homes
The Invisible House is Detailed with Flos Lighting Systems
Smart Glass-Topped Lookouts
These Picturesque Cabins Offer Stunning Views Of the Sky
Supermarket-Style Pavilions
Venice Architecture Biennale's Latvian Pavilion Has a Familiar Form
Cactus-Inspired Urban Skyscrapers
This Danish Skyscraper Features a Spiky Facade Design
Shapeshifting Outer Space Hotels
The Acromnia Orbital Hotel Imagines Life in Space
Multi-Level Japanese Residences
Akio Isshiki Architects Designs the House in Hattori-Tenjin
Kaleidoscopic Kindergarten Buildings
The Tianshui Kindergarten by SAKO Architects is Whimsical
Abstract Fantasy Home Exhibitions
Fort Makers Invite Six Creatives to Design Their Dream Home
Japanese Inn-Inspired Apartments
Intheory Design Creates an Apartment Inspired by Ryokan
Beautifully Sculptural Concrete Museums
Qatar Museums Unveils Official Images of the Lusail Museum
Modern Multi-Purpose Japanese Buildings
Akio Isshiki Architect Overhauls an Old Wooden Building
Stunning Mid-Century Coastal Homes
Design Theory Updates a House from the 1960s
Plant-Covered Concrete Homes
Studio Symbiosis Designs the Villa KD45 in Delhi with a Terraced Roof
Bauhaus-Inspired Pattern Collections
Design En Rogue Architecture Recently Debuted Its New Line
Tactile Fashion Boutique Designs
FOG Architecture Designs a New Xiaozhuo Store Location
Integrated Garden Designs
Ludwig Godefroy Champions "Habitable Gardens" in Mexico
Circus Tent-Inspired Holiday Homes
Cubo Design Architect Designs the Circus Home in Japan
Elevated Airy Office Designs
The 'Aerie' Office Sits High Above the San Francisco Landscape
Box-Like Innovative Apartment Designs
Photon Studio's Designs the Box in the Box Apartment
Stunningly Whimsical Playgrounds
XISUI Design Draws Inspiration from Natural Forms Such as Caves
Multi-Generational Houses
AUN Design Studio Designs the Reflection House in Bangkok, Thailand
Immersive Lighting Installations
Occhio Spotlights Innovation & Imagination with New Installation
Panoramic Scenic Dreamy Homes
Simple Architecture Designs the Tranquil House in Sozopol
Glossy Panelled Pentagonal Buildings
JM Architecture Designs the Pinwheel Building in Italy
Vibrant Multi-Level Office Designs
Gensler Reimagines the Accenture Office Space in Chicago
Water-Inspired Theatre Designs
Open Architecture Unveils Its Plans for the Yichang Grand Theatre
Japanese Garden-Inspired Offices
Flooat Designs the Mitsui & Co Office Space in Tokyo
Curved Concrete Hotels
Atelier d’More Transforms a Two-storey Building into a Contemporary Hotel
Illusory Mirror Lamp Designs
The 'Spegla' Mirror Table Lamp Has an Industrial Form
Compact Pink Residences
PHTAA Designs House R3 as a Blocky Structure with Curving Glass
Textile-Transformed Parisian Lofts
Isabelle Heilmann Transforms a Workshop to an Open Home
Modern Panoramic View Penthouses
Bureau Fraai Designs the Panorama Penthouse in the Netherlands
Staggered TV Station Buildings
Albania's 'Klan TV' Building is Shaped Like a Stash Of Film Reels
Kilometer-Long Museums
Junya Ishigami Introduces the Zaishui Art Museum Along a Lake
Angular Modern Lake Houses
MU Architecture and JS Bourdages Architecture Collaborate
Temple-Inspired Idyllic Homes
Schemata Architects Designs the New K Residence Overlooking the Sea
Modern-Updated Traditional Homes
KiKi ARCHi Designs the Skip House in the Middle of Beijing
Artful Suspended Fashion Exhibitions
Arran Gregory Presents the Invisible Figures Series
Coral-Shaped Bulbous Pavilions
Marc Fornes Designs a Bulging Pavilion for Louis Vuitton
Wavy Metal Facades
SO-IL's 9 Chapel Residential Tower Offers a Istinctive Architectural Vision
Fortress-Like Dynamic Residences
McLeod Bovell Designs the Liminal House in Vancouver
Bamboo-Inspired Cultural Buildings
This Cultural Center Seamlessly Blends Into its Surroundings
Juxtaposing Minimal Artful Homes
Hino Studio Designs the Oceana Retreat in Florida
Monolithic Concrete-Clad Pavilions
Alberto Campo Baeza Collaborated with Miguel Quismondo
Flood-Mitigating Wooden Homes
Ushijima Architects Designs a New Small Home in Shiga Prefecture
Sail-Shaped Skyscapers
Hill West Architects Completes the Olympia Dumbo Building in Brooklyn
Vaulted Structural Telescopic Treehouse
Artistree Home Creates a New Treehouse in Sonoma County
Caterpillar-Shaped Apartment Buildings
Undecorated Developed an Eye-Catching Metal Building
Minimal Ocean-Overlooking Villas
Dagmar Štěpánová Designs the Achioté Villas for Formafatal
Warehouse-Transformed Homes
Fala Atelier Designs the House of Many Faces in Porto
Social Experiment Virtual Apartments
Christoffer Jansson Creates the New Uncanny Spaces Project
Frameless Glass Twin Villas
Formafatal Designs the New Achioté Twin Villa in Costa Rica
Playfully Angular House Designs
Takeshi Hirobe Architects Design the Villa MKZ in Japan
Self-Sustaining Houses
Archiopteryx Designs the People Tree House in Noida, India
Californian Canyon-Inspired Edifices
This Waterfront Building Pays Tribute to Rock Formations
Fish Scale-Resembling Facades
Renzo Piano Building Workshop Designs the Istanbul Modern
Indian Design Principal-Based Homes
Matra Designs the New Prism House with Four Concrete Volumes
Inflated Dynamic Design Exhibitions
Vienna Design Week Hosts the Series Exhibition this Year
Rustic Ruin-Inspired Aquariums
Tatiana Bilbao Estudio Designs The Sea of Cortez Research Center
Reflective Hemispherical Theater Stages
Muoto Designs the Ball Theater to Evoke a Sense of Utopia
Pixelated Illusion Housing
Ben Van Berkel Creates the Van B Housing with Rieder's Help
Sleek Structural Lighting Designs
Hania Jneid Designs the Dynamic Emotional Lab Light
Environmentally Blending Residences
A Threshold Studio Designs the Ineffable Light Home
Temple-Inspired Sculptural Lighthouses
Gonzalo Lebrija Designs the Dynamic El Faro Lighthouse
Figure 8-Structured House
Silvia Fiarman and Alexis Dornier Design the Loop House in Bali
Mirrored-Detailed Garden Cafes
IDIN Architects Designs Structures for Nana Coffee Roasters
Fashion House Showroom Designs
KOT Architects is the Mind Behind the New Dior Office Building
Generously Glazed Spiral Buildings
This Building is Inspired By Czech Glassmaking Tradition
Crystalline Chinese Museum Buildings
The 'Space Crystal' Building Looks Like An Otherworldly Rock
Architecture-Inspired Home Sculptures
Origin Made Spotlights the Spiral and Flight Sculptures
Mesmerizing Fluid Art Installations
Dutch Invertuals Creates the Flow Fountain Installation
Round Glass-Wrapped Lakeside House
Izquierdo Lehmann Designs the Casa Encoique as a Guest Pavilion
Floating-Style Classroom Designs
Ennead Architects & Rockwell Group Completes the Bloomberg Center
Metal-Wrapped Exhibition Spaces
Trace Architecture Office Creates a Structural Steel Wrap
Boxy Shaped Beach Homes
Roman Izquierdo Bouldstridge Designs a New Beach House in Spain
Conical Glass Pavilion Wineries
Studio Other Spaces Designs the Vertical Panorama Pavilion
Artful Garden Inflatable Spheres
Nic Brundson Designs the (This is) Air Project in Melbourne
Wave-Like Structural Art Centers
Studio Zhu-Pei Designs the Zibo OCT Art Center in Shandong
Gradient Tonal Optical Vases
Bo Zhang Designs the Stretch Color Collection of Vases
Artful Reflective Art Exhibitions
Rice Roshan Showcases The Space in Between Exhibit
Monolithic Sleek Summer Homes
Jan Henrik Jansen Arkitekter Creates the Vollerup Atrium Home
Curvaceous Brick Forest Homes
Blurring Boundaries Designs the Asmalay Home in a Forest
Live-In Art Gallery Homes
Casa Galeria is a Home That Doubles as an Art Gallery
Sculptural Canteliver Concrete Houses
Espacio 18 Arquitectura Designs the Casa del Alma
Water-Inspired Sales Building
CIFI Group's New Office Reflects a Frozen Fluid Aesthetic
Hillside Cantilevered Concrete Homes
Anonymous Architects Designs the Olancha Drive House
Light Reflective Modern Villas
PPAA Completes the Concrete Villa with a 'Water Mirror'
Gem-Like Sculptural Art Exhibitions
Fred Eversley Showcases Cylindrical Lenses in New York
Modern Water Tower Apartments
Zecc Architecten Creates a Series of Elevated Apartments
Star-Shaped Structural Pavilions
Mass Studies Unveils the Visuals for the Archipelagic Void
Geometric African Homes
Gregory Katz Architecture Designs the Great Primary Shapes Home
Animated Game-Inspired Buildings
Lev Libeskind Designs the New Rainbow Road Building in Phoenix
Spiky Inflatable Sculptures
Steve Messam Presents His Sculptures During Clerkenwell Design Week
Gothic-Themed Ornamental Homes
Hyde + Hyde Designs a New 19th Century Gothic Home in Oxford
Stilts-Reading Suspended Homes
ElasticoFarm Designs The Hole with the House Around in Italy
Modular Wooden Holiday Homes
Arsenit Designs the Piil Home Resting in an Estonian Forest
Archetypal Conical Light Designs
The Fragile Lamp by Jaume Ramírez Has a Timeless Look
Halo-Like Skylight Homes
Tamara Wibowo Architects Designs the Halo House in Indonesia
Sustainable Cubic Homes
Appels Architekten Designs a New Wooden Home in Germany
Perforated Facade Urban Home
Paperfarm Designs the Contemporary Veil House in Taiwan
Waved Metal-Wrapped Buildings
SO-IL Designs the 9 Chapel Residences Located in Brooklyn
Industrial Spacious Beach Houses
Matthew Royce Designs the Oxford Triangle Home for Himself
Campus-Based Cylindrical Glass Sculptures
Zeller & Moye Were Commissioned to Create the Mirage
Snake-Resembling Sculptural Homes
Wallmakers Created the New Chuzhi House in Shoolargiri, India
Lighthouse-Functioning Concrete Structures
Lin Architecture Creates the Concrete Pavilion in China
Pale Yellow Minimal Townhomes
i.B. Archstudio Designs the VVV Townhouse with Pastel Hues
Spiralling Stainless-Steel Cultural Center
Clouds AO Designs the New 010 Building in Fukuoka
Lotus Flower-Inspired Villas
Thilina Liyanage Designs the Lotus Villa Inspired by Nature
Pixelated Furnished Eyewear Stores
Bogdan Ciocodeica Studio Designs the New Lunet Eyewear Store
Clear Glazing Compact Residences
IGArchitects Designs the Check Patterned House in Japan
Sculptural Concrete Hotel Designs
Atelier d’More Designs the Sleeping Lab Hotel in Beijing
Wooden Blind-Enclosed Spanish Homes
Company Studio Designs the Na Mime House in Mallorca
Lantern-Like Tea House Pavilions
Grau Architects Designs the Tea House Pavilion by the Lake
Sculptural Staircase Penthouses
Tria Arquitetura Designs the New Frederic Chopin Apartment
Contemporary 1960s Italian Villas
The Twisted House Honors its Past with Modern Updates
Ice Block-Formed Pavilions
BIAD Creates the Ceremonial Falling Hours Pavilion for Visitors
Wooden Pavilion Seaside Homes
LAND Arquitectos Designs the House of Circumstances in Chile
Sophisticated Copper Mirrors
Manu Bañó Showcases His Adeptness with Copper Through OBJ-08 Mirrors
Immersive Artful Apartments
Tereza Porybná and Objektor Architekti Design the Ovenecká 33
Geometric Red-Brick Suburban Homes
OFIS Arhitekti Designs the Frame House in Ljubljana
Water Flow-Inspired Art Buildings
MAD Designs the Waterfront Nanhai Arts Center in Guangdong
Intersecting Block-Formed Narrow Homes
Fujiwaramuro Architects Designs the House in Fujidera
Immersive Breeze Houses
Alya Ola Abbas' Design Was Installed for Dubai Design Week 2023
Distinctive Airlifted Structures
Arête Architects and Makers Fabrication Design the Karka Tower
Triangular Lot-Based Narrow Homes
Matthew Royce Designs the Oxford Triangle Home for Himself
Interfaith Family House Complexes
Adjaye Associates Designs the Abrahamic Family House
Staggered Cubic Skyscrapers
OODA Works on a Rising Geometric Skyscraper in Tirana