Set among tall buildings, the fascinating Optical Glass House in Hiroshima, Japan overlooks a busy street in an urban setting. Designed by Hiroshi Nakamura and NAP, this fantastic modern residence offers privacy and tranquility with the help of a genius idea – a garden hidden behind an optical glass façade on the street side now guards the interior spaces from traffic noise, offering a quiet view of passing cars and trams from behind its textured wall.
Visible from all the interior rooms, this indoor garden filters natural light that creates light patterns throughout, enchanting the view and relaxing the atmosphere. Awareness of changing seasons is heightened in this exceptional urban home with its 6,000 pure-glass block facade hiding serene set of interiors. Made out of the raw material for optical glass – borosilicate – these highly transparent blocks surprise as a building material, as well as a unique lighting opportunity. Measuring 8.6m x 8.6m, the facade resembles a waterfall – dynamic, fierce, continually flowing. Take a look at the photos to admire the highly functional modern spaces behind this amazing glass facade and share your thoughts with us.
