Light Leaf Dagsljusomdirigerande lamellsystem by Leijing Zhou

Light Leaf Dagsljusomdirigerande lamellsystem by Leijing Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award i Brons in Byggmaterial- och Byggnadskomponentdesign Competition Category.

BronsByggnadskomponenter· 2026

Light Leaf Dagsljusomdirigerande lamellsystem

by Leijing Zhou

Client: Zhejiang University

A' Design Award i Brons Winner in Byggnadskomponenter 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 Dagsljusomdirigerande lamellsystem

LightLeaf är ett dagsljusomdirigerande lamellsystem för bostäder med begränsat naturligt ljus. Konventionella persiennlameller ersätts med justerbara ljusledande blad som fångar upp omgivande dagsljus och reflekterar det djupare in i rummet. Bladen kombinerar en övre yta med hög reflektans med en diffuserande undre finish för att kontrollera bländning. En lättviktsram i aluminium med vridbara gångjärn och positionslås gör att enheten kan skjutas utåt när mer dagsljus behövs. Systemet stödjer modulär tillverkning och icke-invasiv installation på befintliga fönsterkarmar.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award i Brons

Light Leaf Dagsljusomdirigerande lamellsystem är vinnare av A' Design Award i Brons, ett högst prestigefyllt erkännande som tilldelas enastående designverk som utmärker sig genom kreativitet, uppfinningsrikedom och klokhet. Bronsvinnare är mycket skickliga och slående kreativa föremål som styrker formgivarnas stora erfarenhet, fantasi och påhittighet. Light Leaf Dagsljusomdirigerande lamellsystem förväntas vara ett högt skattat, beundrat och älskat föremål som är anmärkningsvärt professionellt och innovativt. Detta vinnande verk i A' Design Award i Brons införlivar bästa praxis inom konst, vetenskap, design och teknik och är utmärkt genom sin omsorg om detaljer. Light Leaf Dagsljusomdirigerande lamellsystem tillfredsställer fantastiskt behov, rör vid längtan, charmar känslor och väcker nyfikenhet.

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