Definition
North light avoids direct sun in the northern hemisphere, producing soft, even illumination ideal for ateliers, art galleries, and design studios. Architects orient skylights and clerestories to capture it.
Why it matters
It eliminates harsh shadows and colour shifts across the day — critical for any space where accurate visual judgement matters.
Key points
- •Use sawtooth roofs or clerestory windows facing north.
- •Pair with light-coloured ceilings to bounce light deeper.
- •In southern hemisphere, the equivalent is south light.