Techniques for Hiding Show Buildings

[DrStarlander]

In a recent post about the Ministry of Magic queue at Epic Universe, a preview guest posted a theory that the illusion of the interior of the MoM may be achieved by using mirrors, which got me thinking about using mirrors at a large scale, and reminded me of a building I've long been fascinated by on Cauhenga Blvd. near Universal Studios Hollywood because of the visual trick it plays. By combining a mirrored surface with an outward angle, it reflects the street below in an unexpected way: when you look at the building you see cars driving by.

That made me wonder: could mirrored surfaces be used to hide buildings? (e.g., show buildings and backstage buildings in general)? With some research I found some examples of how mirrored surfaces can make a building nearly disappear or diminish it greatly, by reflecting the sky, surroundings, trees, etc.. Here are examples.

So, the the idea here is that an exterior surface material commonly used on office buildings, perhaps with a slight angle either to reflect the sky or reflect the landscaping below the building, could be used to "hide" the building. I'm not sure this has been done in theme parks but "hiding buildings" is not a common goal in architecture! (Except in some of the nature-setting buildings in these examples where the goal is to not spoil the views.)

I did a diagram using an Epic Universe building to show how the effect could be used someday.

 

[KlownzNskullZ]

In a recent post about the Ministry of Magic queue at Epic Universe, a preview guest posted a theory that the illusion of the interior of the MoM may be achieved by using mirrors, which got me thinking about using mirrors at a large scale, and reminded me of a building I've long been fascinated by on Cauhenga Blvd. near Universal Studios Hollywood because of the visual trick it plays. By combining a mirrored surface with an outward angle, it reflects the street below in an unexpected way: when you look at the building you see cars driving by.

That made me wonder: could mirrored surfaces be used to hide buildings? (e.g., show buildings and backstage buildings in general)? With some research I found some examples of how mirrored surfaces can make a building nearly disappear or diminish it greatly, by reflecting the sky, surroundings, trees, etc.. Here are examples.

So, the the idea here is that an exterior surface material commonly used on office buildings, perhaps with a slight angle either to reflect the sky or reflect the landscaping below the building, could be used to "hide" the building. I'm not sure this has been done in theme parks but "hiding buildings" is not a common goal in architecture! (Except in some of the nature-setting buildings in these examples where the goal is to not spoil the views.)

I did a diagram using an Epic Universe building to show how the effect could be used someday.

It could, but then you are dealing with a natural light source which I’m going to assume will not let the effect work 100%
And the mirrors would get dirty and all that. LOL

 

[DrStarlander]

It could, but then you are dealing with a natural light source which I’m going to assume will not let the effect work 100%
And the mirrors would get dirty and all that. LOL

The issues you raise could very much be be valid. But the reason I showed photos of actual buildings with mirrored surfaces is to show it does "work" in daylight. What works about it is that the mirrored surface reflects the dynamic level of ambient light, which camouflages it. If it's a bright day, it is bright. If it's sunset, it reflects sunset colors and light level.

As far as how dirty it would get, it's a standard building material so the maintenance needs are well known. While a painted mural would also get dirty or the colors would fade and need repainting, the mirrored surface would have it's own maintenance needs, which would include cleaning.

A decent example of this is the World of Motion building at Epcot. When you look at the mirrored surface areas they largely disappear because you see the sky and trees reflected. And that's with no angling to maximize the sky or foliage. The point here is the same effect can be used on the sides or backside of a show building or hotel or whatever to achieve the same building-hiding result.

 

[mimiasho]

I never thought about how much those mirrored surfaces can blend a building into the environment. That example on Cahuenga is wild and definitely makes me see the potential for parks to use this more creatively.

 

[yourguytay]

I never thought about how much those mirrored surfaces can blend a building into the environment. That example on Cahuenga is wild and definitely makes me see the potential for parks to use this more creatively.

Same.. I agree with you .

 

[DrStarlander]

I've just recently discovered a house-building show on Amazon called "Inside Out Homes" where an architect named Zac Monro remodels people's houses around London to blend the outdoors with the indoors.

Interestingly, one of his signature techniques is to wrap the structural beams that hold up giant skylights and glass-box rooms/extensions with mirrors to make them disappear. So imagine a 20' x 20' glass room extending off the back of a house into the garden, supported by a structural steel framework...but the beams are all mirrored so when you look at them they reflect the sky and landscape and kind of disappear.

I was kind of delighted to see that.

 

[GAcoaster]

I just always think the best example of hiding a show building is to embrace it and make it part of the attraction...

 

[UniversalRBLX]

I just always think the best example of hiding a show building is to embrace it and make it part of the attraction...

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Too expensive.

Seriously though, a giant building is ok as long as it feels like it belongs in it's location. They obviously just didn't want to spend the money on theming the exterior of GOTG. Was hoping for a facade like at Futuroscope.

Same with the FJ building protruding into the Jurassic Park area at IOA.... all they have to do is put up a few In-Gen graphics on the JP facing side to blend it in.

 

[GA-MBIT]

I just always think the best example of hiding a show building is to embrace it and make it part of the attraction...

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It works so long as the building you're making can reasonably be made into those shapes, but I'd argue most rides can't realistically be housed in anything like a Spaceship Earth. For logistics reasons, let alone cost.

Space Mountain is an iconic showbuilding itself, definitely. As a counter-example though, I want to look next door at Tron, which I believe totally nails it's exterior. It perfectly hides what it doesn't want you to see. I somehow went almost 8 years not knowing about the indoor showbuilding portion of the attraction and just thought that the outdoor run was the entire ride. Even as I was there in person, walking up to the front of the line, I was none the wiser to what I was actually about to experience. The awning is built to look incredibly cool and sleek, especially at night with it's gorgeous lighting package. But it also seamlessly blankets over the larger building behind it, and the substantial hole-in-the-wall that the Lightcycles speed into after the exterior loop.

It blankets it so perfectly, it's really difficult to find pictures to properly show off what I'm describing!

Imagine my shock when I start speeding towards this showbuilding I had no idea even existed for a high-theme indoor finale scene. Even with the brevity and the lack of Stardust-style racing, I think that moment really elevated Tron into something pretty remarkable for me.

 

[belloq87]

It works so long as the building you're making can reasonably be made into those shapes, but I'd argue most rides can't realistically be housed in anything like a Spaceship Earth. For logistics reasons, let alone cost.

Space Mountain is an iconic showbuilding itself, definitely. As a counter-example though, I want to look next door at Tron, which I believe totally nails it's exterior. It perfectly hides what it doesn't want you to see. I somehow went almost 8 years not knowing about the indoor showbuilding portion of the attraction and just thought that the outdoor run was the entire ride. Even as I was there in person, walking up to the front of the line, I was none the wiser to what I was actually about to experience. The awning is built to look incredibly cool and sleek, especially at night with it's gorgeous lighting package. But it also seamlessly blankets over the larger building behind it, and the substantial hole-in-the-wall that the Lightcycles speed into after the exterior loop.

It blankets it so perfectly, it's really difficult to find pictures to properly show off what I'm describing!

Imagine my shock when I start speeding towards this showbuilding I had no idea even existed for a high-theme indoor finale scene. Even with the brevity and the lack of Stardust-style racing, I think that moment really elevated Tron into something pretty remarkable for me.

It's great... unless you're approaching from Storybook Circus or riding the Railroad, in which case it's considerably less impressive!

They nailed the approach from Tomorrowland, certainly.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

It's great... unless you're approaching from Storybook Circus or riding the Railroad, in which case it's considerably less impressive!

They nailed the approach from Tomorrowland, certainly.

They were going to rely on a berm to the north to shelter it, but they ended up cutting it from the budget. Same with GOTG when there were plans for an Epcot entrance hotel.

It will be interesting to see if Monsters, Inc. gets one at DHS