Recently, Inhabitat.com featured a Hiroshima residence called House in Tousuien. What’s so special about House in Tousuien? The entire exterior is translucent.

About House in Tousuien

House in Tousuien was designed by Suppose Design Office in 2012. The home features 740 square feet over three floors and accommodates a family with three children.

The exterior consists of translucent, impact-resistant polycarbonate. The purpose of the design is to allow as much natural light as possible to inundate the interior without sacrificing privacy. The home is rather small, so the great amount of natural light also helps make the living spaces seem larger.

Another great aspect of the design, which Inhabitat.com points out, is that at night, when the interior lights come on, the home gives off a beautiful glow. As cool as this looks, it might be pretty annoying for the neighbours, but we guess that’s what curtains are for.

Would this work in Toronto?

How would you feel about an entire condo being wrapped in translucent polycarbonate? This obviously doesn’t apply to high-rises because privacy isn’t really an issue when you’re 40 storeys up; floor-to-ceiling windows are still the way to go.

But how about the lower floors or boutique condos? If you’re living on the second or third floor and you’re facing the street, passersby can potentially see right into your home, forcing you to have curtains, thereby restricting the amount of natural lighting throughout your living spaces.

The only issue we would really have is that it’s nice to be able to see outside, and sometimes, just that outdoor view is enough to make a small area feel more spacious.

All images via Suppose Design Office website