ABSTRACT
Daylight significantly affects behavior, well-being, and perception of room quality. While daylight principles are well understood in continental Europe, the Nordic climate, with its low-angle sun and diffuse light, requires a distinct architectural approach. Despite growing interest, there is a dearth of structured application of methods for assessing daylight quality and quantity in the process of making.To address this need, a master’s elective course on daylight at the Oslo School of Architecture has been developed. This paper presents our pedagogical approach to integrating and embedding the scientific aspects of daylight into the creative process to meet the need for a specialized approach to designing buildings at higher latitudes. The course equips students with a deep understanding of Nordic light characteristics, daylight theory, and cultural heritage, emphasizing the roles of light and shadow in architecture. A hands-on approach, using physical and digital models, allows students to explore daylight interactions with space, structure, and materials.
