The Daylight Award is an international award that honors and supports daylight research and daylight in architecture, for the benefit of human health, well-being and for the environment. The award puts specific emphasis on the interrelation between theory and practice.

Given the importance of daylight, it is crucial that the fields of research and architecture exchange knowledge and work together. The fields must combine theory and practice in order to maximize the benefit of daylight for humans and The Daylight Award is a step in this direction.

Daylight is a free resource, readily available to all. It is a condition for life on Earth, from photo synthesis to the simple pleasure of life, or impact on the spread of bacteria and vira. It is in physics. In science. In architecture. To take advantage of its potential and prosper in its presence, we must inspire current and future research about the importance of daylight, and we must encourage tangible impacts across any and all areas of application.

The Daylight Award is presented by the philanthropic foundations, VILLUM FONDEN, VELUX FONDEN and VELUX STIFTUNG, established by Villum Kann Rasmussen. The foundations support a wide range of non-profit purposes, in scientific, social, cultural and environmental projects. VILLUM FONDEN, founded in 1971, supports research in the technical and natural sciences, as well as environmental, social and cultural projects in Denmark and abroad. The foundation awards the Villum Kann Rasmussen Annual Award for Technical and Scientific Research. VELUX FONDEN, founded in 1981, supports scientific, cultural, social and environmental projects that seek to advance an informed, open, inclusive and sustainable society. The foundation’s priority areas are active senior citizens, ophthalmology and gerontology. VELUX STIFTUNG, founded in 1980, is a Swiss charitable foundation supporting science in daylight research – especially daylight & humans, daylight & nature, daylight technology – as well as healthy ageing and ophthalmology. The foundation supports high-quality research causing impact in science and/or society.

Nominations are accepted, internationally, from peers who have a knowledge of and interest in advancing outstanding daylight research and unique use of daylight in architecture.

Nominations should include the reasoning for how the candidate meets the award criteria. For the category of Daylight in Architecture, please provide a list of a few relevant projects, together with a link to more detailed information including the photographs.

For the category Daylight Research, please list a few relevant research papers by their title, or include a link to the summary of each paper.

Please note that self-nominations will not be accepted.

The Award director actively solicits nominations from past laureates, professional organizations, architects, researchers and other professionals who have an expertise and interest in the field of daylight research and daylight in architecture.

Additionally, the Award director accepts individual nominations from architects, researchers and other professionals for consideration by the jury for The Daylight Award.

Nominations for 2022 were accepted until 30 September 2021. Nominations that do not result in the award are automatically carried over to the following year. The 2022 laureates will be announced on the UNESCO International Day of Light, 16 May 2022.

Email address: nomination@thedaylightaward.com

Nominations are accepted, internationally, from peers who have a knowledge of and interest in advancing outstanding daylight research and unique use of daylight in architecture.

The Award director actively solicits nominations from past laureates, professional organizations, architects, researchers and other professionals who have an expertise and interest in the field of daylight research and daylight in architecture.

Additionally, the Award director accepts individual nominations from architects, researchers and other professionals for consideration by the jury for The Daylight Award.

Self-nominations are not accepted.

Nominations for The Daylight Award 2022 were open until 30 September 2021. Nominations that do not result in the award are automatically carried over to the following year.

E-mail: nomination@thedaylightaward.com

Nominations should include the reasoning for how the candidate meets the award criteria. For the category of Daylight in Architecture, please provide a list of a few relevant projects, together with a link to more detailed information including the photographs. For the category Daylight Research, please list a few relevant research papers by their title, or include a link to the summary of each paper. Please note that self-nominations will not be accepted.

The laureates will be announced on the UNESCO International Day of Light, 16 May 2022. Nominations for 2024 are accepted until 30 September 2023.

The independent jury, from six to nine recognized professionals, serve for multiple years to ensure a balance between past and new members. The jury is entrusted with selecting the laureates every second year.

Since 1980, the VELUX Foundations and VELUX Stiftung have rewarded the following with daylight awards; Jørn Utzon (DK) (1980), Henning Larsen (DK) (1987), Bob Gysin (CH) (2007), Richard Perez (USA) (2008), Peter Zumthor (CH) (2010), James Carpenter (USA) (2010), Lacaton & Vassal (F) (2011), Gigon & Guyer (CH) (2012) and SANAA (JP) (2014),Steven Holl (USA) (2016), Marilyne Andersen (CH) (2016), Hiroshi Sambuichi (JP) (2018), Greg Ward (USA) (2018), Juha Leiviskä (FI) (2020), Russell Foster (UK) (2020) and Henry Plummer (US) (2020).

Press may contact Jadrana Curkovic, The Daylight Award Communications, at jadrana@thedaylightaward.com or by calling +385 91 1309 971

The celebration of 2022 Laurates is planned for 16 May 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark

Public lectures presented by the laureates and held at leading institutions will be planned for. Details will be announced on the website.

Each of the laureates receives a €100,000 grant, a formal nomination certificate and a glass medallion with inscription.