Light Leaf Louver e Toe Fa'asino le Malamalama o le Ao by Leijing Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Apamemea in Vaega Fau Fale Competition Category.
ApamemeaVaega Fau Fale· 2026
Light Leaf Louver e Toe Fa'asino le Malamalama o le Ao
by Leijing Zhou
Client: Zhejiang University
A' Design Award Apamemea Winner in Vaega Fau Fale Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #181573The Design
About Light Leaf Louver e Toe Fa'asino le Malamalama o le Ao
O le LightLeaf o se faiga louver e toe fa'asino ai le malamalama o le ao mo fale e fa'atapula'aina le malamalama fa'anatura. O laupapa masani o pupuni ua suia i lau ta'ita'i malamalama e mafai ona fetuutuuna'i, e pu'eina ai le malamalama o le siosiomaga ma fa'aata atili i totonu o le potu. O lau ia e tu'ufa'atasia ai se fogāfa'ata pito i luga e maualuga lona fa'aata ma se fa'ai'uga pito i lalo e fa'asalalauina le malamalama e pulea ai le susulu tele. O se fa'avaa alumini māmā ma fa'amau feliuliua'i ma loka tulaga e mafai ai ona tulei atu le iunite i fafo pe a mana'omia le tele o le malamalama o le ao. E lagolagoina e le faiga lenei le gaosiga fa'avaega ma le fa'apipi'iina e aunoa ma se fa'aleagaina i fa'avaa fa'amalama o lo'o iai.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award Apamemea
O le A' Design Award Apamemea na manumalo ai Light Leaf Louver e Toe Fa'asino le Malamalama o le Ao, o se faamaoniga matuā mamalu e tuuina atu i mamanu ese e iloga i le fatufatuaʻi, le atamai ma le poto. O ē manumalo i le Apamemea o mea e iai le tomai atoa ma fatufatuaʻi mataʻina e faamaonia ai le poto masani tele, le mafaufau ma le atamai o tagata mamanu. E faamoemoeina Light Leaf Louver e Toe Fa'asino le Malamalama o le Ao e avea ma mea e vivii tele, ua pelepelea, e iloga i le tomai faapolofesa ma mea fou. O lenei mamanu na manumalo i le A' Design Award Apamemea e tuufaatasia ai faiga sili i le faatufugaga, saienisi, mamanu ma tekonolosi ma e sili ona lelei i le mataituina o mea itiiti. Light Leaf Louver e Toe Fa'asino le Malamalama o le Ao e faamalieina matagofie manaʻoga, pa i manaʻo, faalataina lagona ma faaosofia le fia iloa.
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
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