In architecture, light is everything. It shapes space, enhances textures and creates an ever-changing interplay between the built and natural worlds. In almost every Blakstad project, skylights and lanterns are not just functional – they are defining features of our designs. These architectural details capture the essence of island living by bathing spaces in the sun’s warm, natural glow, enhancing wellbeing and bringing conviviality to every home.
Skylights are typically flat or angled, allowing overhead light to flood a space, while lanterns are raised structures with windows that funnel light from multiple directions. Blakstad’s approach to natural light is rooted in the studio’s refurbishment work. The many traditional fincas we have restored, with thick whitewashed walls and small windows, required creative solutions to maximise daylight. Skylights were a practical response, bringing overhead light to illuminate otherwise dim interiors. Over the years this approach has been further refined, positioning lanterns and skylights not only to satisfy practical issues but to enhance the spatial experience and act as standalone architectural objects that bring harmony and beauty to the room.
Skylights are carefully integrated into key areas such as courtyards, stairwells, kitchens or wherever natural light can enhance a space. Their placement is guided by the sun’s trajectory, ensuring a soft, diffused glow in the morning and a more dramatic interplay of light and shadow by afternoon. This shifting light creates a dynamic, ever-changing connection between the indoors and the elements outside. Shadows move dynamically through the space, transforming it into a living artwork.
Lanterns – a feature found in both traditional and contemporary architecture – serve as a beautiful bridge between past and present. Historically, these raised structures allowed warm air to escape, promoting natural ventilation while drawing in ambient light. Today, Blakstad incorporates lanterns not just for their functionality but also for their sculptural presence. Whether positioned above a central living area or marking the entrance to a home, a lantern serves as both a striking architectural feature and a light source, creating a more dramatic effect than a skylight by raising the ceiling threshold and enhancing the sense of spaciousness.
At the heart of Blakstad’s philosophy is the balance between heritage and modernity. Skylights and lanterns, when thoughtfully integrated, honour architectural traditions while embracing contemporary needs. They allow for energy-efficient, naturally lit spaces that feel both grounded and expansive, and intimate yet open to the landscape beyond. These elements serve to shape buildings and the way light enhances the daily lives of those within. The result is homes that feel timeless, connected to nature and enriched by the beauty of Ibiza’s ever-changing sky.
