Light Leaf Lamelă de Redirecționare a Luminii Naturale by Leijing Zhou

Light Leaf Lamelă de Redirecționare a Luminii Naturale by Leijing Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award de Bronz in Componente de Construcții Competition Category.

BronzComponente de Construcții· 2026

Light Leaf Lamelă de Redirecționare a Luminii Naturale

by Leijing Zhou

Client: Zhejiang University

A' Design Award de Bronz Winner in Componente de Construcții Category

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The Design

About Light Leaf Lamelă de Redirecționare a Luminii Naturale

LightLeaf este un sistem de lamele pentru redirecționarea luminii naturale, destinat locuințelor cu lumină naturală limitată. Lamelele convenționale ale jaluzelelor sunt înlocuite cu lame reglabile de ghidare a luminii, care captează lumina naturală ambientală și o reflectă mai adânc în încăpere. Lamele combină o suprafață superioară cu reflectanță ridicată cu un finisaj inferior difuziv pentru a controla strălucirea orbitoare. Un cadru ușor din aluminiu, cu balamale pivotante și sisteme de blocare a poziției, permite ca unitatea să fie împinsă spre exterior atunci când este nevoie de mai multă lumină naturală. Sistemul permite fabricarea modulară și instalarea neinvazivă pe ramele de ferestre existente.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Bronz

Light Leaf Lamelă de Redirecționare a Luminii Naturale a câștigat A' Design Award de Bronz, o recunoaștere extrem de prestigioasă acordată designurilor remarcabile care se disting prin creativitate, ingeniozitate și istețime. Câștigătorii Bronzului sunt artefacte din plin pricepute și izbitor de creative, care atestă experiența vastă, imaginația și resursele designerilor lor. Se așteaptă ca Light Leaf Lamelă de Redirecționare a Luminii Naturale să fie un obiect foarte apreciat, admirat și prețuit, remarcabil de profesionist și inovator. Acest design câștigător al A' Design Award de Bronz încorporează cele mai bune practici din artă, știință, design și tehnologie și este excelent prin atenția la detalii. Light Leaf Lamelă de Redirecționare a Luminii Naturale satisface splendid nevoile, atinge dorințele, vrăjește sentimentele și stârnește curiozitatea.

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