The Role of Natural Light in Modern Architecture
Few elements in architecture carry as much transformative power as natural light. It costs nothing, weighs nothing, and yet it can make a room feel vast or intimate, warm or austere, alive or still. At PK Arquitetos, the treatment of light is never an afterthought — it is one of the first decisions we make.
Light as a Design Material
When we begin a project, we study the orientation of the site, the path of the sun through the seasons, and the quality of light at different hours. A north-facing living room in Lisbon receives a cool, even glow — ideal for concentration. A south-facing terrace floods with warmth — perfect for gathering. These are not incidental observations; they are the foundation of the plan.
The great modernists understood this. Le Corbusier famously called architecture "the masterly, correct and magnificent play of masses brought together in light." Tadao Ando's churches in Japan use narrow slits to carve light into solid walls. Luis Barragán bathed his Mexican courtyards in filtered colour. Each of these architects treated light not as decoration but as structure.
Strategies We Use
Over the years, we have developed a set of principles for working with natural light:
- Orientation-first planning — The floor plan follows the sun, not the other way around. Primary living spaces face south or west; service areas occupy the less favourable orientations.
- Deep reveals and recessed openings — By setting windows deep within thick walls, we control glare and create soft gradients of shadow across interior surfaces.
- Clerestory windows — Placing glazing high on a wall washes the ceiling with light, making rooms feel taller without sacrificing wall space for furniture or art.
- Controlled reflections — Light-coloured plaster, polished concrete, and stone floors bounce daylight deeper into the plan, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day.
A Case in Point
In our recent renovation of a 19th-century apartment in Alfama, the original layout placed the kitchen in an interior room with no direct light. By removing a non-structural partition and introducing a glazed interior screen, we brought daylight from the south-facing living room through to the kitchen — transforming a dark, utilitarian space into the social centre of the home.
The client told us: "We didn't just gain a kitchen. We gained a whole new way of living in this apartment."
Light and Well-being
Research consistently confirms what architects have sensed for centuries: natural light improves mood, regulates circadian rhythms, and enhances productivity. A 2023 study published in Building and Environment found that occupants of naturally lit workspaces reported 18% higher satisfaction than those in artificially lit equivalents.
For us, this is not abstract data — it is a responsibility. Every window we draw, every skylight we propose, is an investment in the well-being of the people who will live or work inside our buildings.
Looking Forward
As energy codes tighten and sustainability becomes non-negotiable, the intelligent use of daylight will only grow more important. Passive solar design, dynamic shading systems, and light-redirecting materials are already part of our toolkit. But the fundamental principle remains unchanged: begin with the light.
Architecture that ignores the sun is architecture that ignores its inhabitants.