dagslysdesign

Dagslysdesign is a Nordic term used to describe the practice of designing spaces to optimize natural daylight. In architectural and interior design, dagslysdesign seeks to bring daylight into buildings in a way that enhances visual comfort, supports occupants’ well-being, and reduces reliance on artificial lighting. The approach combines elements of passive solar design, daylight analytics, and careful material choices to balance daylight levels, glare control, and heat gain.

Practitioners consider factors such as building orientation, window geometry, glazing types, shading devices, and interior finishes. Techniques include daylight-harvesting strategies like light shelves, skylights, and well-proportioned fenestration to distribute daylight deeper into interiors. Daylight simulations and climate data—using tools similar to Radiance or Daysim—help predict performance across seasons and inform decisions about glazing ratios, shading performance, and interior reflectance.

Dagslysdesign is applied across sectors, including housing, offices, schools, and healthcare facilities, and is often integrated with broader sustainability goals, energy codes, and building certification schemes. In Nordic climates, the emphasis is on maximizing usable daylight during darker months while minimizing overheating in sunny periods.

Benefits of dagslysdesign include reduced electric lighting demand, lower operating costs, improved visual comfort, and positive effects on circadian rhythms and productivity. Challenges include managing glare, ensuring daylight distribution in densely built contexts, and addressing seasonal variation in daylight availability.

See also: daylighting, sustainable architecture, energy-efficient design.