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custom nintendo game boy features clear case and copper wires on transparent circuit board

copper wires and clear case for custom nintendo game boy

Natalie the Nerd creates a custom Nintendo Game Boy with copper wires on a transparent circuit board seen through the clear case. The design allows all internal components to be seen from the outside, from the circuit board to the clear buttons and the small screen.

The show stealer of the device lies inside, and it uses copper wiring traces printed on the circuit board. Under a closer look, users can see that the board is transparent, making the network of copper wires seemingly float. These long lines connect the main chip, memory, sound system, controls, and display, but they also double as the glistening design onto their transparent canvas.

all images courtesy of Natalie the Nerd

A fun art project for modder natalie the nerd

Modder Natalie the Nerd comments on her X account that she sources the transparent cartridge reader inside her custom Nintendo Game Boy from a Chinese-made clone of the same device. She adds that the transparent circuit board ‘is a flex’ and ‘kind of plastic.’  She had to solder it with low melt. During the modding, she took out the ground plane, or the large copper area used for electrical grounding, from the transparent circuit board. In this way, the users can see the details more clearly. It doesn’t cause any functional problems, she says, because the custom Nintendo Game Boy’s electronics are rather simple. They don’t need the same heavy ground, unlike other devices.

On the outside, the device faithfully follows the original style of the recognizable handheld console. The control buttons are below the screen. The D-pad is on the left, and the A and B buttons are on the right. The two smaller round buttons marked SELECT and START are still in the lower center. The difference between the original, even the purple variant, and the modded version is that users see the copper wires and patterns shine through the clear case as they hold the custom Nintendo Game Boy. So far, the modder says she has no plans to make the gadget available for purchase because ‘it’s not a practical device. It’s just a fun art project to show off my personal work’.

Natalie the Nerd creates a custom Nintendo Game Boy with copper wires on a transparent circuit board

rear view of the device with a clear case

detailed view of the screen

evidently, even the buttons are semi-transparent

transparent card slot and board in detail

as shown above, the network of copper wires seem to float because of the transparent circuit board

project info:

name: Transparent modded Nintendo Game Boy

modder: Natalie the Nerd | @natalie.thenerd

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double-layer timber facade enfolds renovated public toilet in korea by daniel valle architects

Daniel Valle Architects Renovate Public Toilet near Lake in Daegu

Located on the southern edge of Susongmot Lake in Daegu, South Korea, a public toilet facility dating back to the 1990s has been renovated by Daniel Valle Architects to meet current functional and environmental standards. The project redefines the relationship between built form and its natural surroundings through structural adaptation and material choice.

The renovation prioritizes openness, daylight access, and integration with the landscape. Several original concrete and stone walls were removed, allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the interior. In their place, a new double-layer timber facade was introduced. Comprising 450 vertical studs set at alternating inclinations, the facade allows light to enter while maintaining visual privacy.

all images courtesy of Daniel Valle Architects

Daegu Public Toilet adapts to seasonal changes in the landscape

The design team at Daniel Valle Architects develops the timber structure to support ecological interaction over time. Climbing plants are expected to gradually grow over the facade, visually embedding the building into its setting. Bird nests have been incorporated between selected studs, enabling the structure to function as a small-scale habitat in addition to its public utility role.

This combination of material strategy, ecological accommodation, and spatial reconfiguration transforms a utilitarian facility into an adaptable element of the lake’s public infrastructure, responsive to both seasonal change and long-term environmental growth.

Daniel Valle Architects updates a 1990s public toilet facility in Daegu

a redefined relationship between architecture and landscape

concrete and stone walls removed to improve openness

450 vertical studs arranged at alternating inclinations

bird nests built into the timber studs

timber structure supports ecological integration over time

natural light now reaches deep into the interior spaces

architecture adapts to seasonal changes in the landscape

project info:

name: Daegu Public Toilet Renovation
architect: Daniel Valle Architects | @danielvalle_architects

location: Susongmot Lake, Daegu, South Korea
area: 130 sqm

client: Songsu-dong City. Daegu City

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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the rambler: compact dwelling by GO’C glows among pacific northwest forests

a brick-screened dwelling completes north of seattle

The Rambler, hidden within a heavily wooded site northwest of Seattle, is a luminous brick home by architecture firm GO’C. The residence occupies a cherished piece of family property on the Kitsap Peninsula just a few blocks from a small beach town. The design grounds itself in its natural surroundings, with a strong emphasis on materiality and form, ensuring the structure connects harmoniously with the landscape. The project is constructed through a close collaboration with local craftsmen, whose years of shared experiences in making have shaped the home’s character.

images © Kevin Scott

go’c Crafts a Space for gathering and Solitude

The architects at GO’C organize The Rambler with a straightforward program, as the three-bedroom, two-bath home caters to the needs of a musician and an architect. At 1,700 square feet, the house maintains a modest scale but extends its reach into the environment. The roof and screen walls create functional outdoor spaces on all sides, framing opportunities for a garden, a guest house, and gatherings around a firepit.

Designed with an eye toward future growth, the structure allows for potential expansion and adapts to the needs of the inhabitants as their lifestyle evolves. The relationship between the home and its surroundings is further amplified by the elevated roof terrace, which offers views of the sky and the trees, making it a space for both relaxation and contemplation.

the Rambler is located on the Kitsap Peninsula northwest of Seattle

Materiality and Structure: Grounded in the Earth

The design of The Rambler by GO’C is based on a solid rectangular volume that stretches horizontally across the site. This form is punctured and carved to create a balance between privacy and openness, allowing natural light and ventilation to enter. The relationship between the ground and the roof plane is central to the design, with the house’s horizontal stretch emphasizing a connection to the earth.

A raised concrete base serves as both structure and heating source, integrating radiant hydronic piping into the floor slab. This concrete base not only provides stability but also establishes a solid visual presence, contrasting with the lighter and more porous elements above.

The roof plane is a defining feature of The Rambler, sheltering the home while providing ample outdoor space. Carved in select areas to allow light and fresh air to enter, it creates voids that open up to the sky and surrounding trees. These apertures provide slices of light that wash over the walls and fill the interior spaces with a soft, natural glow. The single vertical element in the design, a site-cast fireplace and chimney, stands as a totem marking the heart of the living space. It is in this space that the home’s soul is most evident.

the residence sits on a secluded wooded site on family-owned property

The material palette of The Rambler reflects a commitment to durability and timelessness. The concrete base and full-height masonry walls create a sense of permanence, while the deeply raked mortar joints offer texture and contrast to the smooth concrete surfaces.

The materials selected for the project were chosen for their low-maintenance qualities and their ability to improve with age. Local Douglas fir, harvested from the site, was milled and used for the roof’s finish lid, kitchen shelves, and a coffee table. Cedar, also milled on-site, was employed for the entry door, benches, and privacy fences, further integrating the house with its natural environment.

the home is designed as a three-bedroom, two-bath dwelling with spaces for creative activities

A key element in the design of The Rambler is the seamless connection between interior and exterior spaces. Brick screen walls extend into the landscape, creating semi-enclosed exterior rooms that filter light and provide privacy. These walls dissolve the boundaries between the structure and its surroundings, allowing the green of the landscape to flow right up to the perimeter walls and, in some cases, into the home itself.

The entry garden, for example, is a space that invites the landscape directly into the heart of the residence. This bucolic integration of nature and architecture ensures that The Rambler remains a part of the land it occupies.

a raised concrete base serves as structure and heating while providing a visual weight

the roof is an expansive overhang with carved voids for light, air, and access to the sky

name: The Rambler

architect, interior designer: GO’C | @go_c_studio

location: Kitsap Peninsula, Washington, USA

photography: © Kevin Scott | @k7scott

project team: Jon Gentry, Aimée O’Carroll, Yuchen Qiu

builder team: Sparrow Woodworks (Jon Gentry AIA / Lydia Ramsey)

structural engineering: SSF Engineers

civil engineering: J Welch Engineering

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