The use of natural light in architecture, a brief historical overview

Natural lighting has been part of the history of architecture since its beginning and its evolution has closely followed technical, cultural and social advances. Let’s take a brief look at this evolution:

In ancient civilisations such as the Egyptians, light not only fulfilled a practical function, but also had a strong symbolism. This is evident in temples such as Abu Simbel, where the sun’s rays illuminated sacred statues at specific times of the year, with the consequent spiritual significance of the use of light. The Greeks, for their part, used light to emphasise proportion and balance in their temples, such as the Parthenon. The Romans, on the other hand, perfected the technique with elements such as the oculus of the Pantheon, which not only illuminated the interior space, but also connected the building with the cosmic and the divine.

In the Middle Ages, light acquired a mystical dimension, especially in religious architecture. Gothic cathedrals, such as Notre Dame, were designed to soar towards the sky. Here, large windows and rose windows filtered light in complex multi-coloured patterns. Such light not only had a practical function, but reinforced the spiritual symbolism of divinity and transcendence.

The Renaissance revived classical principles of proportion and harmony. Architects such as Bramante and Michelangelo incorporated domes and skylights into their designs to optimise the entry of natural light into buildings such as St Peter’s Basilica. Later, in the Baroque period, light was used dramatically by architects such as Bernini. He played with shadows and highlights to create contrasts that emphasised key elements of spaces and gave architecture a theatrical character.

The Industrial Revolution brought with it the use of glass and steel, which allowed the creation of large illuminated spaces, such as railway stations, factories and greenhouses. An emblematic example of this period is the Crystal Palace in London, where light, adapted to new social and economic needs, became both a technical resource and an aesthetic tool.

In the 20th century, the Modern Movement made light one of the fundamental elements of functional design. Architects such as Le Corbusier optimised the use of natural light with solutions such as ribbon windows and brise-soleil, which improve interior lighting and thermal comfort.

Today, sustainability is at the heart of architecture and natural light plays a vital role in that regard, with the creation of energy-efficient spaces. Projects such as the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi combine energy efficiency with a design that maximises the use of sunlight. All in all, natural lighting has transcended the spiritual role it played in ancient times and has now become a key element in environmental sustainability.