The prize for daylight: Dutch Daylight Award

De Dutch Daylight Award is a biennial award that promotes the optimal use of daylight in the built environment. The Dutch Daylight Foundation was established in 2004 to raise awareness in the (construction) sector of the quality of the most beautiful, affordable, and most circular light source on earth: the sun. The nominees have made daylight the inseparable foundation for good architecture and a good living environment. Nine projects are a source of inspiration for a new generation of daylight architects, daylight consultants, and especially daylight clients, according to the enthusiastic jury.

Daylight in architecture

Daylight is one of the most important building blocks of architecture. It is essential for a healthy and comfortable indoor climate and is also the only truly sustainable light on earth. Daylight has dynamism, varying intensity, shadows, and light effects. It creates a connection between inside and outside and establishes a connection with the natural environment. It brings openness and transparency, ensuring a healthy living environment.

The Two Dike Houses by Tim de Graag

Within the category of projects smaller than 1000m², architect Tim de Graag has been nominated for the Dutch Daylight Award 2024. In 2016, Tim de Graag already won the Award for the long, narrow building in Zierikzee, house 20 x 3In both projects he used the Sky Only View skylights from Glazing Vision to optimally allow daylight in. Dutch Roof Design is a dealer of the beautiful products from Glazing Vision.

In the two historic dike houses in Dordrecht, the heart of the floor plan plays a central role in the perception of daylight. The goal is to experience the interplay of light and shadow throughout the day, without sacrificing privacy.

View of the stars and grazing light in the bathroom

In the first house, a frameless skylight in the bathroom plays a key role. The skylight is located above the sink, providing grazing light in the bathroom and a view of the starry sky from the bathtub. An interior window brings daylight from the bathroom deeper into the house, allowing morning sun to shine into the dining room. A second skylight above the mezzanine brings evening sun into the house.

Shadow play in stairwell with brickwork

The second house is more compact. Here, a skylight is positioned above the large stairwell. At the top of the stairs, a glass façade is set behind Brazilian brickwork. This creates an interesting play of shadows in the grand stairwell.

Would you like to install a skylight in a sloping roof yourself?

Inspired and curious about the possibilities of letting in daylight through your sloped roof? It's easy to do by using one of our standard sizes. These are available from stock in our warehouse. webshop.

Of course you can also make a custom skylight. In this article we give four tips for large skylights in the sloping roof.

More about Tim de Graag's entry

Dutch Daylight Award nominations 2024 announced – on Architectenweb