diff --git a/pyop3/distarray/mirrored_array.py b/pyop3/distarray/mirrored_array.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..018d8b0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyop3/distarray/mirrored_array.py
@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+import abc
+import collections
+
+import numpy as np
+
+from pyop2.offload_utils import _offloading as offloading
+
+
+try:
+    import pyopencl
+except ImportError:
+    pass
+
+try:
+    import pycuda
+except ImportError:
+    pass
+
+
+class MirroredArray:
+    """An array that is available on both host and device
+    copying values where necessary.
+
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, data):
+        # option 1: passed shape and dtype
+        if (len(data) == 2 and isinstance(data[0], collections.abc.Collection)
+                and isinstance(data[1], np.dtype)):
+            self.shape = data[0]
+            self.dtype = data[1]
+            self._lazy_host_data = None
+        # option 2: passed an array
+        elif isinstance(data, np.ndarray):
+            self.shape = data.shape
+            self.dtype = data.dtype
+            self._lazy_host_data = data
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("Unexpected arguments encountered")
+
+        # assume only numpy arrays passed (not device arrays)
+        self._lazy_device_data = None
+        self.is_available_on_host = True
+        self.is_available_on_device = False
+
+        # counter used to keep track of modifications
+        self.state = 0
+
+    @property
+    def data(self):
+        return self.device_data if offloading else self.host_data
+
+    @property
+    def data_ro(self):
+        return self.device_data_ro if offloading else self.host_data_ro
+
+    @property
+    def host_data(self):
+        return self.host_data_rw
+
+    @property
+    def host_data_rw(self):
+        self.state += 1
+
+        if not self.is_available_on_host:
+            self.device_to_host_copy()
+            self.is_available_on_host = True
+
+        # modifying on host invalidates the device
+        self.is_available_on_device = False
+
+        data = self._host_data.view()
+        data.setflags(write=True)
+        return data
+
+    @property
+    def host_data_ro(self):
+        if not self.is_available_on_host:
+            self.device_to_host_copy()
+            self.is_available_on_host = True
+
+        data = self._host_data.view()
+        data.setflags(write=False)
+        return data
+
+    @property
+    def host_data_wo(self):
+        self.state += 1  # TODO make a decorator
+
+        # if we are writing then we don't need to copy from the device
+        pass
+
+        # modifying on host invalidates the device
+        self.is_available_on_host = True
+        self.is_available_on_device = False
+
+        data = self._host_data.view()
+        data.setflags(write=True)
+        return data
+
+    @property
+    def device_data(self):
+        return self.device_data_rw
+
+    @property
+    def device_data_rw(self):
+        pass
+
+    @property
+    def device_data_ro(self):
+        pass
+
+    @property
+    def device_data_wo(self):
+        pass
+
+    @property
+    def ptr_rw(self):
+        return self.device_ptr_rw if offloading else self.host_ptr_rw
+
+    @property
+    def ptr_ro(self):
+        return self.device_ptr_ro if offloading else self.host_ptr_ro
+
+    @property
+    def ptr_wo(self):
+        return self.device_ptr_wo if offloading else self.host_ptr_wo
+
+    @property
+    def host_ptr_rw(self):
+        return self.host_data_rw.ctypes.data
+
+    @property
+    def host_ptr_ro(self):
+        return self.host_data_ro.ctypes.data
+
+    @property
+    def host_ptr_wo(self):
+        return self.host_data_wo.ctypes.data
+
+    @property
+    def device_ptr_rw(self):
+        pass
+
+    @property
+    def device_ptr_ro(self):
+        pass
+
+    @property
+    def device_ptr_wo(self):
+        pass
+
+    def host_to_device_copy(self):
+        pass
+
+    def device_to_host_copy(self):
+        pass
+
+    def alloc_device_data(self, shape, dtype):
+        pass
+
+    @property
+    def size(self):
+        return self.data_ro.size
+
+    @property
+    def _host_data(self):
+        if self._lazy_host_data is None:
+            self._lazy_host_data = np.zeros(self.shape, self.dtype)
+        return self._lazy_host_data
+
+    @property
+    def _device_data(self):
+        if self._lazy_device_data is None:
+            self._lazy_device_data = self.alloc_device_data(
+                self.shape, self.dtype
+            )
+        return self._lazy_device_data