Alberto Campo Baeza and Till Roenneberg Receive the Daylight Award 2024

Abstract, mostly white forms with only a minimum of visible details and a masterful use of light – Alberto Campo Baeza has become internationally recognised for this architecture. The Spanish architect was honoured with the Daylight Award on 16 May for his use of daylight.  

Prize for architecture and daylight research

The award was initiated by three Danish foundations, all of which are associated with the roof window manufacturer Velux and its founding family. They present the Daylight Award every two years to personalities from two fields: architecture and daylight research.

Minimalist design language, masterful lighting control 

In a press release on the award, the initiators write: "Campo Baeza's works honour the quiet wonders of daylight in buildings with very different functions." In addition to numerous residential buildings, the Spanish architect has, for example, designed museums – such as the recently completed Robert Olnick Pavilion at the Magazzino Museum in New York – as well as office buildings, sports halls and open spaces such as the Cathedral Square in Almería, Spain.

Researching biological rhythms 

The second prizewinner is probably less well known in architectural circles: Till Roenneberg is Professor Emeritus of Chronobiology at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. He made a name for himself with his research into how daylight influences people's "inner clock". Roenneberg also coined the term "social jet lag". This refers to the difference in sleeping time between working days and days off. This in turn reflects the changes in the daily rhythm that individuals have to make due to their working day and which run counter to biology.

Interdisciplinary jury 

In keeping with the character of the Daylight Award, the jury is also international and multidisciplinary. In addition to scientists from the fields of neurobiology and environmental psychology, the 2024 jury included the Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa, the Danish architect Dorte Mandrup and the Dutch architectural photographer Iwan Baan.