A laboratory, a tennis pavilion and a kindergarten are among these ten translucent buildings with exteriors made from semi-transparent materials including polycarbonate and frosted glass.

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, by Behnisch Architekten
This timber and concrete laboratory at Germany's Karlsruhe Institute of Technology is encased in translucent polycarbonate panels, echoing the industrial buildings that surround it. Inside, exposed concrete and chipboard panels create a functional, airy space.
The polycarbonate exterior allows a consistent amount of daylight to brighten the laboratory's test areas and creates a lantern-like glow from the building in the evenings.
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Institute for Contemporary Art, Virginia Commonwealth University, US, by Steven Holl
Steven Holl's exhibition and performance centre for Virginia Commonwealth University is made from irregularly shaped blocks that slot together, covered in translucent glass panels and pre-weathered zinc.
A double-height atrium connects three of the galleries in the building, which forms the gateway to the university's campus.
The architect reduced the need for artificial lighting inside by adding skylights and placing both them and the windows strategically to make the most of the natural light, which also streams through the glass walls.
The building recalls Holl's 2006 Bloch Building at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City, which is clad in frosted g...