#kahn was really ahead of his time with how he used daylighting in his buildings

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Kimbell Art Museum / Louis I. Kahn / 1972 / Fort Worth, Texas, USA

The Kimbell Art Museum is largely regarded as one of the crowning achievements of modern architecture. It is constructed almost entirely from white oak, travertine, and concrete. Kahn is known for his monolithic, monumental designs inspired by ancient ruins.

To protect delicate art, daylight has to be carefully managed in museums. Many museums opt for 100% electric lighting, but for the design of the Kimbell, Louis Kahn worked with lighting consultant Richard Kelly on the aluminum reflectors which provide indirect daylighting to the interior of the museum without direct sun to harm the artworks. Here is a simple diagram I made showing how it works:

On a personal note, I visited the Kimbell Art Museum last year during a 10 hour layover at DFW on the way home from my grandmother's funeral, and while it looks simple in terms of its materiality and design, the lighting is phenomenal. When the sun was out, the ceiling would glow, and the whole space had gentle, warm light. When a cloud moved overhead, you could see the lighting becoming softer and bluer in real time. Photos really don't capture the effect, so if you're in the area, I can't recommend visiting enough. Admission is always free.

Photos and additional information: 1, 2, 3, 4