Light Leaf Àwòrán Tí Ń Darí Ìmọ́lẹ̀ Ojúmọ́ by Leijing Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Ohun-èlò Ìkọ́lé àti Ẹ̀ka Ìmọ́lé Competition Category.
IdẹẸ̀ka Ìkọ́lé· 2026
Light Leaf Àwòrán Tí Ń Darí Ìmọ́lẹ̀ Ojúmọ́
by Leijing Zhou
Client: Zhejiang University
Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award Winner in Ẹ̀ka Ìkọ́lé Category
- 21,978
- Verified Award Winner
- Verify Award Status for #181573
The Design
About Light Leaf Àwòrán Tí Ń Darí Ìmọ́lẹ̀ Ojúmọ́
LightLeaf jẹ́ ètò àwòrán tí ń darí ìmọ́lẹ̀ ojúmọ́ fún àwọn ilé tí kò ní ìmọ́lẹ̀ àdánidá tó pọ̀. A ti fi àwọn abẹ́ tí ń tọ́ ìmọ́lẹ̀ tí a lè ṣàtúnṣe rọ́pò àwọn pátákó fèrèsé ìbílẹ̀, èyí tí ó ń gba ìmọ́lẹ̀ ojúmọ́ àyíká tí ó sì ń tan án jinlẹ̀ sí inú yàrá. Àwọn abẹ́ náà ṣe àkópọ̀ ojú òkè tí ó ní agbára ìtànṣán gíga pẹ̀lú ojú ìsàlẹ̀ tí ó ń tú ìmọ́lẹ̀ ká láti ṣàkóso dídán ojú. Férémù aluminiomu fúyẹ́ pẹ̀lú àwọn ìjánu yíyí àti àwọn títì ipò jẹ́ kí a lè ti ẹ̀rọ náà síta nígbà tí a bá nílò ìmọ́lẹ̀ ojúmọ́ púpọ̀ sí i. Ètò náà ṣe àtìlẹ́yìn fún ìṣelọ́pọ̀ oníṣù àti fífi sórí àwọn férémù fèrèsé tí ó ti wà tẹ́lẹ̀ láìsí ìbàjẹ́ kankan.
The Recognition
About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award
Light Leaf Àwòrán Tí Ń Darí Ìmọ́lẹ̀ Ojúmọ́ jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí gan-an tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó tayọ tí wọ́n yàtọ̀ nípasẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀dá, àrékérekè àti ọgbọ́n inú. Àwọn olùborí Idẹ jẹ́ àwọn ohun èlò tó ní ìjáfáfá gan-an tí wọ́n sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá tó yani lẹ́nu tí wọ́n ń ṣe ẹ̀rí ìrírí gbígbòòrò, ìrònú àti ọgbọ́n àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Light Leaf Àwòrán Tí Ń Darí Ìmọ́lẹ̀ Ojúmọ́ yóò jẹ́ ohun tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó jẹ́ ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ nínú iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ jọ, ó sì tayọ nítorí àfiyèsí rẹ̀ sí àwọn àlàyé kékeré. Light Leaf Àwòrán Tí Ń Darí Ìmọ́lẹ̀ Ojúmọ́ ń tẹ́ àwọn ohun tí a nílò lọ́rùn lọ́nà àgbàyanu, ó ń fọwọ́ kan àwọn ìfẹ́ inú, ó ń gbà ọkàn ó sì ń fa ìfẹ́ láti mọ̀ mọ́ra.
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
Sponsored
Explore Beyond Designers.org
Discover products, services and opportunities from our advertising partners.
More to Explore
Related Designs
Explore more award-winning designs from the same category, selected by merit.
