ECCO Sko A/S — Tønder, Denmark

Background: When designing ECCO's new global marketing headquarters in Tønder, Denmark, Ravn Architects wanted to reflect the innovation and quality that the international shoe manufacturer is famous for. Inspired by the traditional construction techniques of the rural marshland of southern Denmark, the highly contemporary building also embodies sustainable practices, using solar power and geothermal heat.

It was crucial that the exterior lighting that would create the key first impression was in tune with the principles of both the architecture and the company – it needed to be sustainable, aesthetically appropriate and create exactly the right welcoming lighting effect. 'We wanted to create a building that represented everything ECCO is about – rooted locally, but with a global outlook,' says Uffe Lumbye of Ravn Architects. 'We were looking for an outdoor lighting solution to work as an extension of the architecture and accentuate it in the best way possible.'

To complement the contemporary architecture, ECCO and Ravn Architecture chose three designs from Louis Poulsen's Flindt collection. Each fixture is stylish and understated, blending naturally into its environment like the building itself. The lighting effect is carefully choreographed, so that the landscape becomes like a stage set with pools of warm, inviting light.