Let there be light: a glass house on the roof for you to work, rest and play

The way Charlie Sharman sees it, occupants of dark apartments should be able to leave their homes, head up to the roof and sit in a luxurious glass-enclosed space, where they can bathe in natural light and recharge their batteries. Full of juice, they can then head back to their conventional living space for the rest of the day.

That was the idea behind Photon Space, a groundbreaking standalone unit of about 500 sq ft created to bring in maximum natural light, allowing people to be exposed to sunlight within the safety of a protective shell.

"Most people spend most of their time in rooms with just a window to let in some light," says Sharman, chairman of the company behind the Photon Space. "Lack of sunlight leads to stress, poor sleeping habits and all sorts of health issues."

Sharman and architect Brent Richards, both based in London, began work on the Photon Space in 2009, consulting teams of engineers, anthropologists, artists and photographers to work on the concept.

They built a prototype in Denmark as part of a research project with Oxford University, and are now liaising with hotels and resorts around the world that have expressed an interest in having a Photon Space available for guests to recover from jet lag or lounge in before taking a spa treatment.

Sharman says, however, that there are other parallel uses: people with enough land around their homes can build one on the grounds, or they can be set up on top of buildings, to be used to work or relax in, while maximising time spent in daylight.