Celebrating Daylight: A Daylight Talk by Darron Haylock
Darron Haylock, Partner at Foster + Partners, UK, will present Daylight Talk #23 titled ‘Celebrating Daylight’ in collaboration the 10th VELUX Daylight Symposium, as the first talk in the 2025 series.
Live event: livestream 18 September at 9:15am at 10th VELUX Daylight Symposium
Watch online: 14 October 2025
Daylight Talks are organised by the VELUX Group in collaboration with individual schools of architecture and they are endorsed by the International Union of Architects (UIA) and the European Association for Architectural Education (EAAE).
Daylight Talk #23- ‘Celebrating Daylight’
Darron’s talk will centre on the symbiotic relationship between architecture and natural light, which has been integral to Foster + Partners’ design philosophy since its founding in 1967. He will chart the development of the practice’s approach, from the Commerzbank Headquarters with its daylit office spaces and bright central atrium – to his recent work on ICÔNE – a new office building in Luxembourg that is filled with natural light and greenery.
In doing so, Darron will explore the many benefits associated with an architecture of natural light, including increased productivity, improved health, and general wellbeing. He will reflect on his personal experiences working on Sulis Hospital Bath and Maggie’s Manchester, projects that use light as a tool to create more humane spaces for treatment, recovery, and reflection.
Darron will also discuss the latest technological innovations, which are helping shape the highly responsive living and working environments of tomorrow.
About Darron Haylock
Darron, a graduate of Architecture from De Montfort University, Leicester, was twice awarded ‘Graduate Student of the Year’. Since joining Foster + Partners in 1995, he has led a diverse range of projects—from healthcare facilities in the UK to landmark towers in Israel. Notable works include the Maggie’s Centre in Manchester and The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His portfolio also features an office building in Warsaw, the Royal Hamilius development in Luxembourg, and ICÔNE in Belval. He is currently leading The Grid, a flexible office development in Athens. He was made a project director in 2001 and a partner in 2004.
About 10th VELUX Daylight Symposium
The 10th edition of the The VELUX Daylight Symposium takes place on 18 September 2025 at Mogens Dahl Concert Hall in Copenhagen.
The VELUX Daylight Symposium is where knowledge meets practice in a unique forum dedicated to the transformative power of daylight in architecture and design across disciplines and professional circles.
The event welcomes individuals working across the industry, including researchers, architects, consulting engineers, educators, and policy makers, to join our community to explore the importance of daylight in architecture for the good of people and our planet.
“Towards Healthy, Resilient, and Sustainable Architecture,” featuring 32 speakers across 28 presentations.
