Get Your Daily Dose of Vitamin D in the All-Glass Photon Space
It’s raining, it’s pouring, and all we can think of are sunnier days. Before people knew the health risks of tanning beds, they were a welcome cure for the winter blues, and a new, first-of-its-kind, all-glass modular structure could be just the safe replacement we’ve been looking for.
The Photon Space was recently launched on Crowdcube, a British crowdfunding platform, by the Photon Project, a group of innovators in the fields of architecture, technology, engineering and design, along with scientists at Oxford University. It is a 147-foot compact living space that takes into account the health benefits of exposure to natural light. The distinguishing element of the Photon Space is its intelligent glass architecture, which can change in an instant from transparent to opaque.
Most of us spend the majority of our time indoors, often in poorly-lit apartments and windowless cubicles. Russell Foster, professor of circadian neuroscience and head of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford and part of the Photon Project research team, concludes that “a healthy dose of natural light can help regulate circadian rhythms, reduce stress, and improve mood, among other benefits.”
The multi-layered, high-performance glass façade of the Photon Space is bonded to curved glass beams, regulating insulation, solar gain, UV transmittance (99.9% of which is blocked), sound levels (85% of outside noise is blocked), and climate control. It also accesses more of the blue light spectrum, the best type of light for regulating sleep patterns and decreasing stress. Additionally, built-in nanotechnology darkens the glass in case you need to sleep during the day.
Considered a luxury daytime suite, the Photon Space includes a furnished living room, a double bedroom and a modular kitchen and bathroom. It can be built in about four weeks, and its integrated steel subframe has a low environmental impact and allows it to be constructed almost anywhere. The Photon Project plans to start by targeting luxury spas and hotels, but we can definitely picture Photon Spaces going up on roofs of the city’s eco-friendly buildings.
[Related: Beat the Winter Blues and Bring the Sunlight Inside with the Sunn Light]
[Via Archinect]
Images via Photon Project
