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Illuminating Design: Grazing Skylights
Create Your Home's Own Light Show With a Skylight Near the Wall
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City. I have Bachelor of Architecture and Master in Urban Planning degrees, and over ten years experience in architectural practice, split between Chicago and NYC. Currently I'm focused on writing and online pursuits. My daily blog can be found at http://archidose.blogspot.com
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City.... More »
Skylights come in all shapes and sizes. Their location in a room can influence the quality of the space, shaping one's experience of the light that connects inside to outside, house to sky. And the difference between a skylight in the center of the room versus one alongside a wall is dramatic. In the case of the latter, the sunlight entering the space grazes the wall at certain times of the day to create patterns in light.
This can lend drama to a space and accentuate the material of the wall itself, highlight objects placed upon them, or reflect the light to increase the ambience of the space. The examples that follow illustrate various ways of incorporating skylights alongside walls, be it at staircases, in living rooms, or even in bathrooms.
This can lend drama to a space and accentuate the material of the wall itself, highlight objects placed upon them, or reflect the light to increase the ambience of the space. The examples that follow illustrate various ways of incorporating skylights alongside walls, be it at staircases, in living rooms, or even in bathrooms.
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by Bruce Wright
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| This photo perfectly illustrates the drama that comes from skylights adjacent to walls. Located above a stair, the light coming from above is accentuated by light coming in from a narrow window at right. These work in concert to make the stair a special space in the house. |
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Here is another skylight adjacent to a fairly light stair with open risers and cable guardrails. The skylight draws your eye to the large opening at the top of the stair. At certain times of the day, the light can extend to the floor, casting shadows through the stair.
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| Here the soft light that enters the stairwell from above extends in the space downstairs through the use of a transparent guardrail. Looking at the stair from above ... |
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... we can see the same guardrail overlooking the opening above the stair, a large opening that aligns with the skylight above to bring light downstairs.
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This view illustrates a couple things: The design of the skylight is important, as it will be visible; and the wall below a skylight is well suited for displaying and highlighting artwork. Note how the triptych is aligned with the opening at left, so it can be appreciated from across the room.
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Where is the skylight here? A soft glow comes from the ceiling in the distance, aligned with a window framing some backyard trees. A look from the opposite direction ...
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... reveals the skylight, a minimal construction with only perimeter framing. It combines with a window above the stair to frame views of the sky and trees beyond.
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This skylight is placed above a narrow staircase. What is important here is the wall at left, a translucent glass wall ...
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| ... that borders the garage. This space then receives illumination from the skylight in the stair beyond. Very nice. |
While stairs are ideal for skylights (what can go above a stair anyway?), they are are also well suited for living rooms and large spaces that may need more natural light than windows provide. Many of the relevant skylights on Houzz are actually located above fireplaces. This examples illustrates that framing these skylights along walls can be tricky; here the structure is not removed but boxed out with drywall to meld with the minimal walls and ceilings.
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On the other hand, this skylight above a fireplace dramatically accentuates the irregular texture of the stacked stone. By day the hearth glows from above; at night it glows from the fire within.
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| This last example with a skylight over a fireplace shows how a room with warm materials and colors can be lightened by the introduction of natural light from overhead. The brick wall is accentuated, while the wood ceiling stays dark and gives an intimacy to the tall space. |
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A bathroom may seem like an odd place for a skylight, but they can be quite memorable. Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye, a modern masterpiece, actually includes a small skylight in the first-floor powder room, of all places; that's one of the most memorable places I've had to ... well, you know. In the photo the experience of showering is heightened by the light from above (cleanliness is next to Godliness?).
The skylight above this tub also gives an ethereal glow to the small room. This photo serves as a reminder that the more natural light that can be brought into rooms, the less you need artificial lights and the energy to power them.
More:
Sliding Walls Bring the Outside In
Bathe in the Light of Clerestory Windows
The Case for Interior Courtyards
Translucent Surfaces: A Canvas for Light and Shadow
More:
Sliding Walls Bring the Outside In
Bathe in the Light of Clerestory Windows
The Case for Interior Courtyards
Translucent Surfaces: A Canvas for Light and Shadow
Comments
myhouzzisyourhouzz Lovely! Dramatic. Vitamin D inducing gorgeous design!
23 months ago · Like
CAROLE MEYER I love sky skylights and the patterns they can cast on the interior. The example below is of our outdoor living room in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Carole www.carolemeyerart.com 
23 months ago · Like
garrettmcs Thanks for contributing such great posts.
23 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on July 11, 2011.
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