More natural light, lower energy consumption, and streamlined costs

… How Glazing Systems Sustainably Brighten Spaces In our projects, the use and integration of light always play a central role. Whether in offices, laboratories, or residential spaces, daylight is a crucial factor in both new construction and renovation projects. And for good reason—flooded with natural light, rooms not only create a pleasant atmosphere and a sense of spaciousness but also significantly impact energy efficiency and indoor climate. Last but not least, light and air have been proven to influence human psychology. In the following, we take a closer look at the key aspects of daylight planning from an architectural perspective and how the right glazing systems can enhance daylight supply in interior spaces.

Michael Fritschi

Building Orientation and Positioning. The orientation of a building significantly impacts natural light exposure and its intensity. Seasonal variations introduce different challenges: while a south-facing orientation is beneficial in winter, it can cause overheating in summer, making a well-planned shading concept essential. East- and west-facing orientations allow for morning and evening sunlight, ensuring even light distribution, but also require shading solutions to prevent glare—especially in workplaces, where optimal lighting conditions are crucial for employee productivity. A thorough site analysis is necessary to assess factors such as shading from vegetation, neighboring buildings, and seasonal light variations.

Window Size and Placement. The size and positioning of windows greatly influence the amount of daylight entering a space. While larger windows bring in more light, they can also lead to heat loss in winter or excessive heat gain in summer. Swiss building regulations, such as SIA 331, govern planning, execution, and quality, indirectly influencing window size.

Room Depth and Controlled Light Management. In shallow rooms, daylight is evenly distributed, whereas in deeper spaces, light penetration decreases. Solutions such as skylights, light wells, louvers, and glass partitions help guide daylight further inside. Interior courtyards and atriums can also improve daylight distribution, ensuring that even central areas receive sufficient natural light.

Not All Glass Is the Same. The choice of glass affects both the project and window size. Well-insulated windows and solar glass can contribute to energy savings and passive heating, particularly in winter, reducing heating costs over time. While energy-efficient coated glass minimizes heat loss, it can also alter light intensity and color perception, similar to wearing sunglasses.

Louvers, Blinds, and Smart Shading Systems. External blinds, louvers, and facade shading systems help regulate sunlight and minimize glare. Smart control systems with built-in sensors dynamically adjust shading based on light intensity and time of day, enhancing both comfort and energy efficiency. However, when shading is manually operated, user behavior becomes a factor. Many people lack awareness of daylight management and tend to keep blinds closed regardless of the season, reducing the benefits of natural light.

Interior Design for Brighter Spaces. Interior design choices also influence brightness perception. Light-colored and reflective materials enhance daylight distribution, making spaces feel brighter and more inviting, while dark materials absorb light, creating a dimmer atmosphere. Thoughtful placement of reflective surfaces can help redirect and amplify natural light throughout a space.

Daylight & Well-being: A Scientific Perspective. Natural light boosts metabolism, regulates hormones, and positively impacts the immune system, cellular function, respiration, pulse, and body temperature. In 1983, the WHO identified Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), which describes non-specific symptoms caused by prolonged indoor stays, often linked to poor ventilation and insufficient daylight exposure. Whether in offices or homes, access to natural light improves mood, enhances productivity, and supports overall well-being.

More blog posts

Zamri Thüring
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04. March 2024

Digitale Transformation in der Baubranche

Auch wir bei Blaser Architekten befinden uns mitten in der digitalen Transformation aller Geschäftsabläufe und können von uns behaupten, dass wir bereits vieles umgesetzt haben. Die Digitalisierung ist aber kein Sprint, auch kein Marathon – viel mehr ein Weg, den wir nicht mehr verlassen werden. Laufend werden neue Tools entwickelt, KI wartet in immer kürzer zu werden scheinenden Intervallen mit neuen Möglichkeiten auf. Das bedeutet, dass wir die digitale Transformation nicht als Prozess verstehen, der nun bald abgeschlossen sein wird, sondern als selbstverständlich gewordener Teil unserer täglichen Aufgaben. Deswegen ist es uns wichtig, diesen Weg aufmerksam zu gehen, was heute möglich ist zu implementieren, aber auch neue Entwicklungen nicht zu verschlafen. Einer unserer Mitarbeitenden ist in diesem Thema besonders zuhause und legt sich dafür ins Zeug. Zamri Thüring ist Student des Master-Studiengangs in Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) an der FHNW und arbeitet bei Blaser Architekten in der Qualitätssicherung für Computer Aided Design (CAD, QS). In diesem Blogbeitrag teilt er seine Erfahrungen und Einsichten.

Anna Stärk
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28. May 2024

Relaunch Blaser Architects

Founded in 1993, our office can now look back on a career spanning more than 30 years. 30 years in which we have been able to implement a large number of exciting projects, gain experience and, last but not least, continuously develop ourselves. What has remained the same is the passion for our profession and the unconditional thirst for knowledge and the will to share it, because more than ever we believe that it is not about preserving know-how and experience, but about sharing and passing it on - this is the only way to create mutual exchange, progress and participation. Our company claim “sharing experience” is intended to fulfill this desire and is part of our relaunch, which we implemented on the occasion of our 30th company anniversary...

Anna Stärk
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09. July 2025

Building in a Sensitive Environment: A Conversation with Felix Jakob, Managing Director of the Hirsacker Foundation.

The Hirsacker Foundation is a private foundation based in Liesberg, Canton of Basel-Landschaft. By public mandate, it offers places in "Supported Living" as well as in "Accompanied Day Structuring" specifically for people on the autism spectrum. Founded in 1987, more than 60 employees are currently dedicated to enabling clients to lead self-determined and fulfilling lives. Tailored to individual needs, the services include nature-oriented, manual, and creative activities that take place in a safe and supportive environment, focusing on joy of life, development opportunities, and social inclusion. Maintenance work that has become necessary is now being undertaken by Blaser Architects. This encompasses several properties of the Hirsacker Foundation, particularly the "Riederwald" residential building and the "Hirsacker" area. A first sub-project has already been completed, with other works still pending.

Credit David Walter
Anna Stärk
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21. January 2025

NEW PROJECT BRIEFLY INTRODUCED: HORTUS, House of Research, Technology, Utopia, and Sustainability, Opening in June 2025

Architecture and science – two fields that go hand in hand in the Basel region. These aspects are skillfully intertwined on the MAIN CAMPUS of the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area in Allschwil. This life sciences and innovation ecosystem, developed over the past few years near the French border on behalf of Senn Resources AG, offers an attractive and highly interconnected home for companies and institutions ranging from startups to multinational corporations...

Anna Stärk
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11. August 2025

Corporate Architecture – Built Brand Identity in Space

At first glance, the term "corporate architecture" often evokes the notion of uniform, interchangeable buildings with no apparent connection to their respective locations. However, as architects and general planners frequently active in this area, we understand that behind corporate architecture lie complex tasks that demand precision, adaptation, communication, logistical skills, and other challenging competencies. These very challenges make such projects particularly exciting for us...

Anna Stärk
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21. March 2025

Industry Night Basel 2025: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Construction and Planning Industry

On May 9, 2025, the Industry Night Regio Basel will take place – a unique event where companies open their doors. Blaser Architekten has taken the initiative and brought together seven companies from the region to provide a joint insight into the diverse aspects of construction projects.

Anna Stärk
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30. September 2024

Minergie certification for Andermatt

In the heart of the Gotthard massif lies the small village of Andermatt, which despite its striking location remained untouched by tourism for a long time. Thanks to a comprehensive tourism initiative by the major Egyptian-Montenegrin investor and developer Samih Sawiris, this has now changed and Andermatt has become an attractive destination for winter and summer visitors. We were also involved in this project and, as architect and general planner, have been responsible for getting the largest flat block there, Haus YARA, off the ground in recent months. Our guiding principle for this project was to combine tradition and modernity in order to create a harmonious whole between contemporary living and traditional architecture. MINERGIE certification, which was officially awarded the week before last, is also part of the concept.

Christian W. Blaser
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19. June 2025

Inspiration you can touch – a glimpse into our analogue architecture library

Pinterest, digital mood boards, Instagram, ChatGPT and other AI-powered research tools – the number of digital information platforms is vast, and they’ve become an integral part of our daily workflow. And yet, our analogue architecture library possesses a unique power of its own. As a tactile archive of architectural history and a source of inspiration for future thinking, it remains a constant presence in our studio – sometimes used more, sometimes less, but always accessible.

What’s a Rich Text element?

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Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

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How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

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Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

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What’s a Rich Text element?

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What’s a Rich Text element?

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