More natural light, lower energy consumption, and streamlined costs
… How Glazing Systems Sustainably Brighten Spaces In our projects, the use and integration of light always play a central role. Whether in offices, laboratories, or residential spaces, daylight is a crucial factor in both new construction and renovation projects. And for good reason—flooded with natural light, rooms not only create a pleasant atmosphere and a sense of spaciousness but also significantly impact energy efficiency and indoor climate. Last but not least, light and air have been proven to influence human psychology. In the following, we take a closer look at the key aspects of daylight planning from an architectural perspective and how the right glazing systems can enhance daylight supply in interior spaces.
Anna Stärk
11. March 2025
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Building Orientation and Positioning. The orientation of a building significantly impacts natural light exposure and its intensity. Seasonal variations introduce different challenges: while a south-facing orientation is beneficial in winter, it can cause overheating in summer, making a well-planned shading concept essential. East- and west-facing orientations allow for morning and evening sunlight, ensuring even light distribution, but also require shading solutions to prevent glare—especially in workplaces, where optimal lighting conditions are crucial for employee productivity. A thorough site analysis is necessary to assess factors such as shading from vegetation, neighboring buildings, and seasonal light variations.
Window Size and Placement. The size and positioning of windows greatly influence the amount of daylight entering a space. While larger windows bring in more light, they can also lead to heat loss in winter or excessive heat gain in summer. Swiss building regulations, such as SIA 331, govern planning, execution, and quality, indirectly influencing window size.
Room Depth and Controlled Light Management. In shallow rooms, daylight is evenly distributed, whereas in deeper spaces, light penetration decreases. Solutions such as skylights, light wells, louvers, and glass partitions help guide daylight further inside. Interior courtyards and atriums can also improve daylight distribution, ensuring that even central areas receive sufficient natural light.
Not All Glass Is the Same. The choice of glass affects both the project and window size. Well-insulated windows and solar glass can contribute to energy savings and passive heating, particularly in winter, reducing heating costs over time. While energy-efficient coated glass minimizes heat loss, it can also alter light intensity and color perception, similar to wearing sunglasses.
Louvers, Blinds, and Smart Shading Systems. External blinds, louvers, and facade shading systems help regulate sunlight and minimize glare. Smart control systems with built-in sensors dynamically adjust shading based on light intensity and time of day, enhancing both comfort and energy efficiency. However, when shading is manually operated, user behavior becomes a factor. Many people lack awareness of daylight management and tend to keep blinds closed regardless of the season, reducing the benefits of natural light.
Interior Design for Brighter Spaces. Interior design choices also influence brightness perception. Light-colored and reflective materials enhance daylight distribution, making spaces feel brighter and more inviting, while dark materials absorb light, creating a dimmer atmosphere. Thoughtful placement of reflective surfaces can help redirect and amplify natural light throughout a space.
Daylight & Well-being: A Scientific Perspective. Natural light boosts metabolism, regulates hormones, and positively impacts the immune system, cellular function, respiration, pulse, and body temperature. In 1983, the WHO identified Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), which describes non-specific symptoms caused by prolonged indoor stays, often linked to poor ventilation and insufficient daylight exposure. Whether in offices or homes, access to natural light improves mood, enhances productivity, and supports overall well-being.
Anna Stärk
11. March 2025
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A large part of our work today is digital and virtual—we design with CAD, enhance plans with BIM data, and visualize projects in 3D. Still, sometimes the tried and true methods prove their worth. Take model making, for example, which continues to play a significant role in architecture. Surprisingly, this might seem counterintuitive given the indispensable tools like 3D renderings and simulations, making physical model making appear almost outdated. However, as in life, the magic often lies in the mix: combining digital and analog methods unlocks unique potential. Why Analog When Everything Is Digital?
Founded in 2006, the non-profit foundation Architektur Dialoge (AD) aims to raise public awareness about architecture and urban issues while fostering dialogue between the industry and private users. To achieve this, Architektur Dialoge offers a wide range of events on architecture and building culture, inviting the public to learn more through lectures, guided tours, and workshops. One of these offerings is the Making Of series, which provides insights into craftsmanship and architecture. Hosted by Christian W. Blaser, a member of the AD Foundation Board, the series not only highlights completed projects but also tells the stories behind their creation—from the initial idea to their realisation...
Workplace Creation at Primeo AG through pioneering building technology with antique building material... Founded over 125 years ago, the Primeo Energie cooperative is headquartered in Münchenstein and reliably supplies over 180,000 households in Switzerland and France with energy. Under the motto ‘We bundle energy’, the infrastructure company focuses on the decarbonisation of the energy supply and offers intelligent, unique solutions in the areas of smart homes, sustainable mobility and energy efficiency. These are aimed at private and business customers as well as energy supply companies, cities and municipalities.
What actually is... amock-up?Sketches, drawings,floor plans, 3D models - the language used by architectural designers tocommunicate visually is not always easy to understand right away in reality -after all, visualizations often only offer a perspective view and plans, gridsand the like must also be able to be read. And even if digitalization has longsince found its way into the field of construction (planning) and architecture,the implementation of a project and the end result is still a highly analoguematter that involves sensory perception. So what helps to illustrate ideas andpossible projects in the best possible way and to give clients, but also thecontractors, tradespeople and suppliers involved, a comprehensive picture ofwhat the future could look like? Exactly, a mock-up, i.e. a modelrepresentation on a scale of 1:1. The term mock-up has its origins in French(maquette) and means something like preliminary model, sketch or draft.
Architecture and science – two fields that go hand in hand in the Basel region. These aspects are skillfully intertwined on the MAIN CAMPUS of the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area in Allschwil. This life sciences and innovation ecosystem, developed over the past few years near the French border on behalf of Senn Resources AG, offers an attractive and highly interconnected home for companies and institutions ranging from startups to multinational corporations...
Efficient, cost-effective and high-quality: our new-build project in Basel/Binningen with prefabricated façade elements. What convinced us... We are currently working on the construction of a new apartment block (MFH) in Basel/Binningen, where we are in the middle of the shell construction and suggested a kind of modular system to the client, more precisely the use of prefabricated façade elements.
We decided to work with ERNE AG Holzbau, which specialises in prefabricated façade systems. Together, we developed a combination of reinforced concrete ceilings with steel columns and non-load-bearing façade elements for our project. The following advantages drove us to pursue this concept:
A key benefit is the time factor: prefabricated façade elements are manufactured in the factory and can then be assembled on site, which significantly reduces the overall construction time. In addition, you are less dependent on favourable weather conditions, as it is more difficult to work in hail, snow or 35 degrees than under weather-independent conditions in the production hall, where the right tools, materials and expertise are always immediately available.
DEEP DIVE – Auseinandersetzung mit Branchen-Themen: Bauindustrie zwischen Politischem Mikromanagement und Europäisierung
Rückblick auf unser Podiumsgespräch im Klybeck Areal am 3. September 2024. Am 3. September 2024 fand im Klybeck Areal ein spannendes Podiumsgespräch statt, das sich mit der Frage beschäftigte, wie die Bauindustrie den Spagat zwischen politischem Mikromanagement und Europäisierung meistern kann. Gastgeberin auf dem Klybeck Areal war Anita Fetz, alt Ständerätin und Verwaltungsrätin der Rhystadt AG. Auf dem Podium waren Hans Peter Wessels, alt Regierungsrat Kanton Basel-Stadt, Gabriela Theus, Geschäftsführerin Immofonds Asset Management AG Zürich sowie Christian W. Blaser, Blaser Architekten Basel. Moderiert wurde das Podium von Manuel Hutter, Verwaltungsrat der Kontur Projektmanagement AG. Anlass für uns, das Gespräch und die Gedanken dieses Abends noch einmal Revue passieren zu lassen...
Auch wir bei Blaser Architekten befinden uns mitten in der digitalen Transformation aller Geschäftsabläufe und können von uns behaupten, dass wir bereits vieles umgesetzt haben. Die Digitalisierung ist aber kein Sprint, auch kein Marathon – viel mehr ein Weg, den wir nicht mehr verlassen werden. Laufend werden neue Tools entwickelt, KI wartet in immer kürzer zu werden scheinenden Intervallen mit neuen Möglichkeiten auf. Das bedeutet, dass wir die digitale Transformation nicht als Prozess verstehen, der nun bald abgeschlossen sein wird, sondern als selbstverständlich gewordener Teil unserer täglichen Aufgaben. Deswegen ist es uns wichtig, diesen Weg aufmerksam zu gehen, was heute möglich ist zu implementieren, aber auch neue Entwicklungen nicht zu verschlafen. Einer unserer Mitarbeitenden ist in diesem Thema besonders zuhause und legt sich dafür ins Zeug. Zamri Thüring ist Student des Master-Studiengangs in Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) an der FHNW und arbeitet bei Blaser Architekten in der Qualitätssicherung für Computer Aided Design (CAD, QS). In diesem Blogbeitrag teilt er seine Erfahrungen und Einsichten.
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Static and dynamic content editing
A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!
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How to customize formatting for each rich text
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Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.
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What’s a Rich Text element?
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