Daylighting opens up a range of topics of investigation at the interface between architecture and building technology, especially when focusing on the integration of building performance in design. While it has a strong impact on human health and well-being, and an undeniable association with (subjective) emotional delight and perceived quality of a space, it is also highly dynamic and variable in nature, based on a combination of predictable (sun course) and stochastic (weather) patterns, which makes it both a challenging and essential aspect of how “performative” a space can be considered. This paper aims to provide an overview of research perspectives regarding how architectural design, building engineering and other domains of science could be more strongly bridged to address the need for meaningful metrics in architectural design and propose approaches to integrate the complexity of human needs in buildings into effective design and decision-making support.