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  • Writer's pictureBritney Heerten

Illusions in Architecture

There are some buildings that are not what they seem. Architects often get creative with illusions to make a space look larger or more fitted to a certain style. Take a look at these amazing examples below.


One example of this is the Dujiangyan Zhongshuge bookstore located in China. The center cylindrical bookcase extends from floor to ceiling and is reflected by ceiling mirrors and a black tile floor. The reflections cause the bookcase to look like it extends beyond the existing floor and ceiling. The books at the top of the bookcase are not real. The books at this height are only prints that appear to be real. At this height, real books would be too difficult for shoppers and employees to reach, but the illusion of books extending on is still achieved by the prints.

Another illusion is The Palazzo Spada. In 1635 Borromini designed a garden space to look larger than it actually is. The columns decrease in size as the corridor goes on to give the effect of a longer corridor. The statue appears to be life size, but it is actually only 31 inches tall. The bushes at the end were carved from stone because Borromini did not trust any gardener to get the perspective correct.

GT Tower East in Seoul, South Korea is a wavy building that appears to move as you drive by.

The building was designed by Dutch architectural firm ArchitectenConsort.




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