The innovative Periscope House by Metamorphic Art Studio from West Flanders, Belgium, is captivating audiences at the Venice Architecture Biennale. Hosted by the European Cultural Centre (ECC) at Palazzo Mora, this groundbreaking project showcases sustainability and technical ingenuity.
The Periscope House features a working model of an underground building surrounded by movable mirrors powered by solar panels. These mirrors rise in the morning, directing daylight and scenic views into the subterranean space. Architect Xaveer Claerhout describes it as a “viewing machine for light and space” that thoughtfully channels light through slow, rhythmic mirror movements.
“Underground, where silence reigns, Periscope plays with light and sight. Through mirrors that slowly rise and fall, daylight is carefully guided inside. The mirrors, moving like periscopes, capture what happens above and direct it into the space,” Claerhout said.
Internationally acclaimed and awarded by Architizer as one of the world’s best architectural projects of 2025, the Periscope House will be on display at Palazzo Mora until November 23.
Image Courtesy: belgannewsagency.eu
