Light Leaf Papare Whakaahu Māramatanga Awatea by Leijing Zhou

Light Leaf Papare Whakaahu Māramatanga Awatea by Leijing Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Parahi in Hoahoa Rauemi Hanga me ngā Wāhanga Hanganga Competition Category.

ParahiRauemi Hanga· 2026

Light Leaf Papare Whakaahu Māramatanga Awatea

by Leijing Zhou

Client: Zhejiang University

A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Rauemi Hanga Category

21,978

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #181573

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Light Leaf Papare Whakaahu Māramatanga Awatea

Ko LightLeaf he pūnaha papare whakaahu i te māramatanga o te awatea mō ngā kāinga he iti nei te māramatanga taiao. Ka whakakapia ngā papa ārai matapihi noa ki ngā rau ārahi māramatanga ka taea te whakarite, e hopu ana i te māramatanga awatea o te taiao, ā, ka whakaata atu ki roto rawa i te rūma. Ka honoa e ngā rau he mata runga whakaata kaha me te whakaotinga raro whakamararara hei whakahaere i te kanapa whakakonewha. Mā te anga konumohe māmā me ōna hinihi hurihuri me ngā raka tūnga e taea ai te pana i te taputapu ki waho ina hiahiatia he māramatanga awatea anō. Ka tautoko te pūnaha i te hanganga wāwāhi kōwae me te whakaurunga kore-pokanoa ki ngā anga matapihi kua tū kē.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Parahi

Ko Light Leaf Papare Whakaahu Māramatanga Awatea te toa o te A' Design Award Parahi, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke e tohua ana mā te auaha, te mahi mōhio me te whakaaro hōhonu. Ko ngā toa Parahi he mahi pukenga e rite ana, he auaha mīharo, e whakatūturu ana i te wheako nui, te whakaaro me te mōhio-ā-ringa o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Light Leaf Papare Whakaahu Māramatanga Awatea he taonga whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he ngaio, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Parahi e whakauru ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa i te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau, ā, he tino mīharo ki ngā taipitopito. Ka whakatutuki a Light Leaf Papare Whakaahu Māramatanga Awatea i ngā hiahia, ka pā ki ngā hiahia, ka whakaoho i ngā kare-ā-roto, ā, ka kume i te pākiki.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: LightLeaf is a daylight-redirecting louver system for living spaces with insufficient natural light. By replacing conventional blind slats with adjustable light-guiding blades, it captures ambient daylight and redirects it deeper indoors, creating soft, even illumination without daytime electricity. Designed for low-floor, north-facing, or compact residences, LightLeaf improves visual comfort and spatial quality while balancing privacy, safety, and energy efficiency.
Dimensions & Packaging: 900mm x 80mm x 1350mm
Tags: Daylight redirecting system, Light-guiding louvers, Passive daylighting, Energy-efficient housing, Urban living solutions, Non-invasive installation, Sustainable architecture, Indoor environmental quality
Production Technology: LightLeaf integrates a lightweight aluminum frame with pivot hinges, position locks, and adjustable louver assemblies. The dual-surface louvers combine a high-reflectance upper coating with a diffusive lower finish to enable controlled daylight redirection. The system is engineered for modular fabrication and non-invasive installation on existing window frames. Its design development referenced passive daylighting principles, facade engineering strategies, and basic optical reflection modeling to optimize light distribution efficiency and glare control.
Design Challenge: The main challenge was converting a conventional shading device into an effective daylighting system without adding complexity. It required balancing light redirection, glare control, privacy, and structural stability within existing window constraints. Building regulations and wind resistance were key external factors. The solution focused on simplifying the mechanism while maintaining performance and safety.
Research: This project is based on applied design research addressing insufficient daylight in residential spaces. The goal was to redesign a familiar window element to improve indoor light quality without electricity. Field observations of low-floor and north-facing homes were combined with simple daylight behavior studies and visual simulations. Results showed that redirecting light upward reduces glare and increases brightness deeper inside, improving comfort and energy efficiency through minimal structural intervention.
Inspiration: This project was inspired by the widespread issue of underlit living spaces, especially low-floor, north-facing, or obstructed residences. Observations of residents relying on temporary reflective panels and daytime artificial lighting revealed the need for a more effective and integrated solution. Drawing from passive daylighting principles, LightLeaf reimagines conventional blinds as a light-guiding system to improve indoor environmental quality without additional energy use.
Project Duration: The project commenced in October 2025 and was completed in January 2026.
Operation Flow: LightLeaf functions like a regular blind in daily use, allowing users to adjust the slats for shading and privacy. When more daylight is needed, the lock is released and the unit is gently pushed outward. By rotating the blades, incoming light is reflected upward and distributed deeper into the room. This simple transformation redirects natural light more evenly, reducing glare near the window while brightening darker areas indoors.
Team Members: Keyin Chen
Leijing Zhou
Qikai Tang
Yi Zhou
Rui Yao
Menghan Li
Yijun Zhao
Bingjing Fang