Is Daylight a Luxury?
When we talk about luxury in architecture, the conversation often turns to rare materials, bespoke detailing, or high-end finishes. But for us, the greatest luxury is something far more fundamental: daylight.
Daylight is dynamic. It shifts from morning to evening, summer to winter, constantly reshaping the atmosphere of a space. It is free, abundant, and life-affirming. Yet, it is too often limited by the way we plan our cities, orient our homes, and configure our workplaces.
The evidence is clear. Access to natural light improves concentration, reduces stress, and supports physical and mental wellbeing. No artificial light can match the richness, depth, and variety of daylight. It is a material that not only allows us to see, but also helps us feel rooted in place and time.
At Coffey Architects, we see daylight not as a by-product of design but as a core material, as vital as brick, timber, or stone.
Modern Mews
A three-bedroom renovation of a London Mews House features a bespoke timber staircase.
In Modern Mews, a very narrow house just 3 meters wide and 8 meters deep, daylight was initially limited to the front and the roof. To bring light deep into the plan, we used a combination of glass landings and sliding doors made of oak louvres with glass interlayered with rice paper. This allowed sunlight to penetrate vertically and horizontally between rooms, creating a bright, airy home where even the most enclosed spaces benefit from natural light.
At the Digi-Tech Factory, a four-storey educational building in Norwich, daylight drives both comfort and functionality. A central atrium floods the interior with natural light, while the perforated façade balances illumination and shading. This ensures spaces are bright and energising, yet glare is controlled so students and staff can work comfortably with digital screens. The strategy demonstrates how thoughtful daylighting can enhance wellbeing, productivity, and usability simultaneously.
Imagine if our cities were planned with this same priority, where every home, school, and workplace offered generous daylight. What would it mean for the quality of our daily lives if daylight was seen not as a privilege, but as a right?
True luxury in the built environment is not expensive materials. It is the everyday gift of daylight, available to all, but only if we design with it in mind.
Where have you experienced daylight at its most transformative?