FIVE EFFORTLESS LIGHTING STRATEGIES

5 Ways Natural Light Can Instantly Elevate Your Design

Light shapes more than visibility—it defines space, mood, and energy efficiency. 

Harnessing natural light can transform your design.

Try these 5 effortless lighting strategies:

1. Direct Light – Bold shadows, dramatic contrasts.

Barozzi Veiga's Unbuilt Museum Project

Straight from the source – harsh shadow, high contrast.

Used to get maximum light.

Museo de Andalucia- Alberto campo Baeza – Uninterrupted direct light intake through circular open plan.

2. Diffused Light – Soft, even glow for ambient comfort.

Light comes through frosted glass or shaded surfaces.

Soft, even, ambient. Perfect for calm, meditative spaces.

National assembly Building, Dhaka –by Louis kahn.

Light enters through deep recesses, becoming atmospheric.

3. Framed Light – Architectural composition through windows & openings.

Curated through an opening oculus or stained glass.

Roman Pantheon

Light framed into a composition

Church of Light  - Tadao Ando – Light slices across concrete, creating spiritual intensity.

4. Bounced Light – Reflected off walls, water, or ceilings to add depth and warmth.

Herzog & De Meuron, MUSEU BLAU BARCELONA

Light reflected off shiny walls, floors, water, or ceiling.

Salk Institute – Louis Kahn

Light reflected off the water channel acts like a guiding light.

5. Borrowed Light – Channeled from adjacent spaces via cutouts, jalis, or partitions.

Light brought into a space from the adjacent areas through cutout, partition, jalis

Laurie Baker’s structures, kerala.

Brick Jalis and cutouts let rooms borrow light and air from each other.