When a rooflight is added to a space, the user will no doubt gain light and, if the rooflight is openable, ventilation. But how much light will they actually get? Adding a rooflight isn't just about providing light and ventilation. it's about optimising top light in the most effective way.
In the UK, the majority of light we get is bright white light from the sun.
Light from above has a different quality to light from the side
With light from above you get a directional shaft of light.
We believe architects have the opportunity to use our rooflights as a tool to paint with light.
There are lots of interesting things you can do with light. As an architect I have a very real interest in how light will look inside my interiors. By using rooflights to create an inverse sundial, you can not only create dramatic patterns but also show where the sun is passing through the sky.
Peter King, RIAS
