The Daylight Award directs focus at the interface between architecture and research - and places great emphasis on the interaction of theory and practice.
VILLUM FONDEN, VELUX FONDEN and the VELUX STIFTUNG, three philanthropic foundations established by Villum Kann Rasmussen, present the Daylight Award of €100,000 to each laureate.
Previous laureates:
- Jørn Utzon (DK) (1980)
- Henning Larsen (DK) (1987)
- Richard Perez (USA) (2008)
- James Carpenter (USA) (2010)
- Lacaton & Vassal (F) (2011)
- Marilyne Andersen (CH) (2016)
- Steven Holl (USA) (2016)
- Hiroshi Sambuichi (2018)
- Greg Ward (2018)
- Russell Foster (2020)
- Henry Plummer (2020)
- Juha Leiviskä (2020)
The Daylight Award is presented as two awards
The Daylight Award for Research is presented to an individual or a group of scientists for their outstanding contribution to international daylight research. The award has particular focus on interdisciplinarity and research in human well-being and opportunities for linking theory to practice.
The Daylight Award for Architecture is presented to an individual or a group of architects who have excelled at creating architecture or urban spaces that demonstrates a unique use of daylight with particular focus on architecture that takes into account quality of life and impact on human health and well-being, and the value for its immediate environments.
- Koen Steemers (Chair), (UK) Professor of Sustainable Design, The Martin Centre for Architectural and Urban Studies, Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Anne Lacaton (FR), Principal of Lacaton & Vassal Architectes, based in Paris, France
- Dorte Mandrup (DK), Creative Director & Founder of Dorte Mandrup A/S
- Marilyne Andersen (CH), Professor of Sustainable Construction Technologies at EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL) and Co-Founder of OCULIGHT dynamics Sàrl.
- Gerd Folkers (CH), Professor for Science Studies at the ETHZ Zurich
- Russell Foster (UK), Director of the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Head of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute at the University of Oxford
- Juhani Pallasmaa (FI), Finnish architect, writer, teacher and practicing architect who has lectured extensively across the world for more than 40 years.
Previous laureates
The laureates 2022: Grafton Architects and Anna Wirz-Justice
The 2020 laureates:
Juha Leiviskä recieves The Daylight Award in architecture and Russell Foster recieves The Daylight Award in reserach while Henry Plummer recieves a special Lifetime Achievement Award.