‘Sun the Quilt’ by students XU Qicheng, LUO Jun, GAO Rui, RUAN Guoqiang, ZHANG Xuanyi & CAI Kunhong from Xi’an University Of Architecture And Technology, China has been named the global winner of the Light of Tomorrow by VELUX 2026 international student competition, following live presentations at the UIA World Congress of Architects in Barcelona.
How can daylight become more than a design feature — and instead become the starting point for architecture itself?
That was the challenge explored by students from around the world in this year’s Light of Tomorrow by VELUX competition. From a field of 539 submissions from architecture schools globally, eight finalist teams were invited to Barcelona to present their work on an international stage. Among them, ‘Sun the Quilt’ stood out for its potential to become a real living solution, where the architects go to the bottom of a problem, work it through, take advice, and turn it into something that can live and thrive in the world. It begins with a lived and valued experience and shows architecture that makes poetry out of the everyday.
The winning project
Sun the Quilt rethinks the ordinary domestic act of drying textiles, food and household objects within dense urban environments. The project introduces an adaptable façade system that combines daylight modulation, ventilation, shading and drying into a single architectural element. Responding to the realities of contemporary high-density housing, the proposal transforms an overlooked everyday activity into part of the building envelope itself. Adjustable frames create an intermediate climatic zone between interior life and the city beyond. Through its simplicity and climatic responsiveness, the project repositions architecture as a framework for daily human experience.
For architecture students, the project is a reminder that light is not something added at the end of the design process. It can be structure, concept, material, and strategy all at once.
A global competition for the next generation of architects
Now in its 12th edition, Light of Tomorrow by VELUX is one of the largest international competitions dedicated to students exploring the role of daylight in architecture.
Established in 2004, formerly known as the International VELUX Award, the competition continues to invite students to experiment with one of architecture’s most essential elements: natural light.
The 2026 edition was organised in close collaboration with the International Union of Architects (UIA) and attracted entries from across continents. The submissions reflected a wide range of ideas, from climate-conscious design strategies to poetic explorations of atmosphere, perception, and human wellbeing.
Projects were evaluated based on:
- The use of daylight as a foundation for architectural design
- Research quality and documentation
- Relevance to contemporary and future challenges
- Innovation, experimentation, and conceptual strength
From 539 submissions to one global winner
An international jury of leading architects, educators, and representatives reviewed all submissions during a two-day jury meeting in Copenhagen in April 2026.
The jury consisted of:
- James Carpenter (US)
- Liene Jākobsone (LV)
- Níall McLaughlin (IE)
- Oya Atalay Franck (CH), Chair and UIA representative
- Elena Arregui Jaeger (ES), VELUX representative
- Doris Wälchli (CH)
After several rounds of evaluation, the jury selected 5 regional winners and 3 special prize winners. Together, these eight teams became the finalists invited to Barcelona.
Presenting ideas on a global stage
For the finalist teams, the competition did not end with the submission deadline.
All eight teams were invited to take part in a dedicated workshop in Barcelona, where they had the opportunity to refine their projects before presenting them live at the UIA World Congress of Architects – one of the most significant international gatherings in the architectural field.
Standing in front of a jury and an international audience, the students presented not only their final designs, but also the research, thinking, and experimentation behind them.
The final award ceremony took place as part of the official UIA programme, giving students a rare opportunity to share their work within a global professional context.
Prize and recognition
The global winner receives:
- €4,000 for the student(s)
- €1,000 for the teacher
But beyond the prize money, the competition offers something especially valuable for emerging architects: international visibility, professional feedback, and direct engagement with leading voices in architecture.
For students, this kind of platform can open doors, not only to future collaborations and opportunities, but also to new ways of thinking about what architecture can do.
Looking ahead
Light of Tomorrow by VELUX continues to be a platform for emerging architectural voices, connecting students, educators, professionals, and institutions through a shared interest in daylight as a driver of innovation.
As this year’s winning project shows, the next generation is already redefining what architecture can be - more responsive, more experimental, and more attuned to the role of light in shaping the spaces we inhabit
As ‘Sun the Quilt’ demonstrates, the future of architecture may begin with something as simple – and as powerful – as light.
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Find out more about the winning project and competition here: https://www.daylightandarchitecture.com/lightoftomorrow
The post Meet the Global Winner: Light of Tomorrow by VELUX 2026 appeared first on Competitions.archi.