Natural light and fresh air are staples of great residential design. Yet in many modern homes, these simple qualities have quietly started to disappear.
As housing design has evolved from single-room dwellings into complex multi-space interiors, many homes have become more compartmentalised and sealed off from the outside world. The result is houses that often rely heavily on artificial lighting and air conditioning, even in the middle of the day.
With modern conveniences and digital entertainment, we are often spending more time indoors. This makes bringing fresh air into the home more important than ever, with ventilation and natural connection becoming priorities.
VELUX executive vice president for North America, Europe and APAC, Anders Dam Vestergaard, says that more time spent indoors has resulted in many homeowners prioritising natural light and ventilation: “Today we spend about 90% of our time indoors, often losing our connection to nature and the outdoors.”
For architects and designers, reconnecting homes with natural elements is increasingly seen as a key design opportunity. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by introducing daylight from above.
In many homes, the brightest areas sit around the perimeter where vertical windows are located, leaving central spaces such as kitchens, hallways and living areas comparatively dark.
Skylights and roof windows help bring light deep into the floor plan. This distributes daylight into spaces where families typically spend the most time, often delivering up to twice as much natural light as vertical windows of the same size.
Because the light enters from above, it changes throughout the day, creating a dynamic and natural atmosphere that artificial lighting simply can’t replicate.
Beyond daylight, it’s important to consider natural ventilation in homes. Many modern homes are designed with energy efficiency front-of-mind. Thoughtful ventilation allows for comfortable airflow, which helps with better temperature regulation naturally throughout the seasons.
Designing with ventilation in mind can help improve comfort while reducing reliance on air conditioning and ultimately reducing energy costs for heating and cooling.
Great residential design is not only about how a home looks, but how it feels to live in. As Anders puts it: “People function better in environments with access to natural light and fresh air. Homes filled with daylight and refreshed by fresh air don’t just look better, they perform better and feel better every single day.”
Virtual Reality Showroom
Ever wondered exactly how much a skylight would change your living room? VELUX just made that decision a whole lot easier with their brand-new showroom in Sydney’s inner-west.
They’ve launched Australia’s first VR-enabled skylight experience, where you can literally walk through four different home styles—from “Coastal” vibes to “Modern Industrial”—using virtual reality. It’s a game-changer because you can see how daylight shifts and changes the feel of a space in real-time, helping you ditch the design guesswork.
Whether you’re an architect exploring possibilities or a designer seeking inspiration, the Alexandria space is equal parts showroom and design consultation studio. If you’re in Sydney, it’s definitely worth a visit to 78 Henderson Road!
