Here’s an interesting building design for all the Star Wars junkies out there. Luna Apartments, by architecture firm, Elenberg Fraser, features a design inspired by Princess Leia’s “dancing girl” gold bikini costume from “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.”

Luna Apartments

Located in Australia, Luna Apartments is a contemporary design, with a stunning metallic exterior. Its curves and skin are what initially stand out as the main features inspired by Leia’s provocative attire in “Return of the Jedi,” but there’s even more to it than you think.

According to Elenberg Fraser, they were trying to tackle this age-old issue: “How do you retain privacy, keep your lights on and still enjoy the view?” If you’re an intense Star Wars fan, you know there are two kinds of Leia in Episode VI: the cunning, poised prisoner, and the submissive seductress. Luna Apartments represents both.

The entire exterior of Luna Apartments is wrapped by an operable shutter system, which houses a series of lights. If a resident turns on their inside lights, the interior is reflected onto the window, and everyone can see inside. If the outside lights are turned on, the interior is illuminated, and the resident can see outside, and passersby can’t see inside.

Privacy vs. lighting

Sacrificing privacy for natural lighting has always been an issue for low-rise homes and the lower floors of condo buildings. Just last week, we featured a home in Hiroshima that employs a translucent polycarbonate skin for the entire exterior. This allows an abundance of natural light into the living spaces, without sacrificing any privacy. The only issue is that whoever lives there can’t see outside from within the home.

Elenberg Fraser's design seems to work better than the Hiroshima home because the resident can decide when to be exposed and when not to be.

Would this work in Toronto?

Would an exterior skin with this kind of lighting system be desired in Toronto? Could you picture a new boutique condo with a shiny, metallic skin? Would you feel better at night with your lights on, knowing that no one could see inside your living space?

Let us know what you think!

All photos by Peter Clarke and from ArchDaily