We instinctively value buildings filled with natural light. Yet precisely because daylight feels so self-evident, it can sometimes fade into the background during the design process. What if daylight were treated as a design tool in its own right, from the very first sketch? This is the starting point of the Daylight Academy, to which A+ and VELUX invite a select group of architects.
Designing with daylight goes far beyond intuition. How much natural light does a space really need? Where should openings be positioned, and how large should they be? What is the impact of orientation, roof form and the path of the sun? When does glare become an issue? And how can we bring sufficient daylight into a building without increasing the risk of overheating?
Throughout this interactive day, theory, research and architectural case studies come together. Participants will learn not only to see daylight, but also to understand, measure and compare it. Through inspiring modules, case studies and exercises, the session explores how daylight can be integrated from the earliest design stages to create more sustainable buildings that are healthy and comfortable places to live and work.
But the Daylight Academy goes beyond numbers. How can natural light transform a space? How can intelligent, sometimes surprisingly simple design choices enhance comfort and well-being? And how can daylight ultimately become a distinctive part of a project’s architectural identity?
The session will be led by Joël Sels, Senior Daylight Design Engineer at VELUX. As an educator and researcher, he brings more than thirty years of professional experience in construction and architecture. His fascination with daylight has led him to one central question: how do we design with natural light?
Sels is known for his pragmatic and creative approach to complex design challenges. He makes unexpected connections, encourages participants to think outside the box, and translates knowledge and research into practical design tools. His approach always puts people at the centre: architecture, daylight, functionality, comfort and well-being are not considered separately, but as interconnected parts of a whole.
The Daylight Academy is therefore not a conventional training session, but a day dedicated to exploring, testing and exchanging ideas with fellow architects.
VELUX provides the first pieces of the puzzle. The architect takes it further. Together, we rethink the power of daylight.
DAYLIGHT ACADEMY — SESSION FOR ARCHITECTS
1 December 2026, 10:00–16:00
Utopia Library, Aalst
With Joël Sels – Senior Daylight Design Engineer, VELUX
Attendance is free (places are limited)
