Cities of Light, Cities of Shadow

In this episode of Sunlight Matters, Dave sits down with the brilliant Paula Longato—architect, daylight consultant, and lighting designer—to explore why daylight access and sunlight analysis are critical yet often overlooked elements in urban design and architecture.

🎙️ What You'll Learn:

• Why modern cities like New York and Dubai are "dark daylight cities" 🌆
• The role of shadow mapping and solar exposure in creating healthier urban environments
• How real estate sun studies can shape better buildings and energy-efficient homes
• The silent power of green light, and how vegetation affects our mental and physical health 🌿
• Why vernacular architecture holds the key to future-ready, climate-conscious cities
• The untapped potential of darkness design and the physiological dangers of over-illumination 🌒

💡 Paula shares her journey from sun-soaked São Paulo to the grey skies of Germany—and how that shift sparked a lifelong passion for daylight architecture and sunlight-responsive urban planning. Together, they tackle the complexities of building orientation, facade engineering, and circadian lighting, offering a holistic view of how we can—and must—build better with the sun in mind.

🌇 Whether you're an architect, city planner, homebuyer, or just someone chasing sunlight, this episode will shift the way you think about the built environment and your place within it.