Architectural Strategies for Bringing Daylight Into Attic Renovations

Gonzalo Pardo of gon arquitectos has converted the same Madrid building type at least three times, treating the roof as the primary design surface. Their CIEL apartment (151 sq m, 2023) anchors a set of strategies for attic daylighting. Key moves include perforating the roof before partitions, treating skylights as main windows, borrowing light through circular interior openings, using full-height glass partitions, adding solar tubes for inaccessible spots, applying mid-tone colors to manage glare, designing dual-purpose glazing that works as a lantern at night, and organizing layouts around moving light. Casa Binôme, an 80 sq m duplex in Conde Duque, won an award and is organized around a staircase that links structure, light, and movement. The studio's method is summarized as demolish, perforate, and furnish.