Skylights

“This was a former painting workshop, so it has lots of light but no insulation. The roof structure was maintained as is, but we painted it white and covered it with dark natural cork,” shares de la Vega. The pine was all sourced locally from the north of Spain, and the door leads to the couple’s bedroom.

A modern addition to an old London home offers ample space for a growing family, as well as a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf situated under a skylight.

Roof lanterns illuminate the kitchen and dining area during the day. They are a low-maintenance alternative to skylights since they don't allow the forest's debris to accumulate and potentially block the natural light overhead.

"When we were going through the spreadsheet and trying to figure out what to remove from the budget, not one person ever said to cut the circular skylight," laughs Alison. "This thing was absolutely staying."

The architects designed the home’s expansion with the knowledge that the owners plan to continue the renovation when their budget allows it. "We wanted to put everything in the right place so it doesn’t have to be undone later," says Corti.

The skylight and floor-to-ceiling glass windows invite nature into the bathing area of the bathroom.

Initially, the idea was to seed the planter below the oculus with native grasses and shrubs, adding to the dwelling’s connection to the landscape. “Instead, the owners came up with a brilliant idea of placing a stone cairn there that will grow over time by inviting visitors to add a stone with each visit,” explains architect Hunter Gundersen. “Again, the owner wanted this special place to be all about time and connection.”

A curving skylight illuminates the minimalist kitchen of a dwelling in Bondi Beach, Australia, that was renovated by Andrew Burges Architects.

The skylight above the pool is an odd shape, one Corral describes as a "rectongulus." It’s this spot, in a home full of beautiful moments, that she likes best. Above you is the sky. The rammed earth surrounds you, the view is in front of you, and the shadows of the trellis dance on the gentle waves of the turquoise pool. "It’s the place where you have all the connections," says Corral.

The handmade tiles used to clad the wet areas are by Heath Ceramics. “It was definitely a splurge,” says architect Peter Tolkin. “I thought that there would be something very powerful about having these colorful, enclosed volumes. It’s almost like being inside of a ceramic vessel.”

In the bedroom wing, sunlight shines down from the Plexiglass bubbles. Steel in the cutaways reflects the light.

A flourishing garden grows inside this glass-roofed Victorian home in Melbourne. The skylight creates a sunny space to dine while warm wood tones accentuate this nature-inspired abode.

A closer look at the sculptural steel stair connecting the two main levels.

A skylight allows daylight into the ground-floor hallway, making the private spaces feel open and airy.

A wedge-shaped skylight allows natural light to suffuse the interiors. The architects preserved a palette of dark, natural materials on the ground floor.

In the combined kitchen and dining room, a skylight lets in lots of sunlight, and the table overlooks the courtyard.

Circular mirrors adhere to the inner walls of a skylight above the dining area, bouncing light and bringing the room yet more illumination.