daylightcentric

Daylight-centric is a design or planning approach that places natural daylight at the center of decision making, with the goal of maximizing daylight use while maintaining comfort, visual quality, and energy efficiency. The term is used across architecture, interior design, and urban planning to describe projects that treat daylighting as a primary driver of form, materials, and layout rather than as a secondary feature.

Key principles of daylight-centric design include aligning spaces to capture daylight for the greatest number of occupied hours, optimizing window placement and size, choosing materials with suitable reflectance, and employing shading strategies to balance glare and temperature. Designers often use daylight simulations and climate-based daylight modeling, along with established metrics such as daylight factor and daylight autonomy, to predict performance and guide decisions. The approach is frequently integrated with passive solar strategies, advanced glazing, and intelligent controls for artificial lighting to achieve consistent illumination and energy savings.

Applications are common in offices, schools, hospitals, and other spaces where occupant well-being and productivity are priorities. Benefits attributed to daylight-centric design include reduced reliance on artificial lighting, lower energy use, better circadian alignment, improved mood and perceived comfort, and enhanced wayfinding and spatial quality. Challenges can arise from weather variability, glare, and potential overheating, particularly in hot climates or highly glazed envelopes. Urban contexts may limit daylight access due to surrounding structures, requiring creative solutions such as light shelves or reflective interiors.

Daylight-centric is related to, but distinct from, general daylighting and passive solar design. It emphasizes daylight as a central performance criterion rather than a supplementary feature, guiding decisions from site selection to interior finishes.