Could living in a glass house boost your HEALTH? Architects claim that their light-filled homes improve sleep and fight stress

Could the secret to less stress, improved health and enjoying a better night's sleep be found in a transparent house? That's what one company is claiming, and they say living in glass homes can improve our overall wellbeing.

Of course location would play a part; living in the centre of a busy park might not be as relaxing or quaint as living, say, out among the trees in the English countryside.

But the company says that by being exposed to sunlight more regularly, our circadian rhythms work properly and our bodies know how to better regulate themselves.

The team of architects and scientists used the latest in all-glass technology to come up with The Photon Space, a house made entirely of glass.

The multi-layered, high-performance glass walls, bonded to curved glass beams, are fully transparent, which allows natural light to flood in, boosting the health, mood and productivity of those inside, according to the company.

The Photon Space has also been designed so it is never too hot or too cold and can be darkened for privacy via smartphone, night or day, using the latest nanotechnology.

The 485 square-foot (45 square-metre) house, with 360 degree views, includes a living room, double bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, and takes just four weeks to build.

The pods will 'retail' for £210,000 ($330,000), with a luxury version available for £260,000 ($410,000). 

All the homes can be designed according to the request of the customer, however, including the size and shape of the structure.

It has also been suggested for use as an office, cafe or base on a safari park, among others, with its steel sub-frame making it suitable for building at most locations.

The double-glazed glass panels have apparently a high-performance in insulation and also block adequate amounts of solar radiation: 63 per cent.

They also block 99.9 per cent of ultraviolet light, and can keep out 85 per cent of sound.

When constructed, the building also touches the ground ‘lightly’ in the words of the team, so it can be removed with little impact on the surroundings.

‘The intention is for The Photon Space to “nest” in the environment and become embedded in the surroundings,’ they write on their website.

However they note this will not always be possible, and suggest the structures could also be placed on top of roofs in cities.

Quite how much privacy you'd be afforded in such a home, though, might be somewhat called into question.

While the walls can be tinted to block out prying eyes, it's unlikely the occupant would want them tinted all the time, considering the purpose of the house is to let in more light.

And location would also be key; it almost certainly wouldn't be as fun living at the centre of a busy park as opposed to, say, a nice secluded piece of countryside.