Stockmann Oyj, façade lighting of the Helsinki department store

Outdoor lighting project of the Year 2013 in Finland. In planning the lighting of the Stockmann department store, the demands created by commercial considerations and by the cityscape have been integrated beautifully, despite the limited possibilities afforded by a protected building located in a city centre. The lighting renovation has been a long-term project, which has involved both updating traditional lighting themes into modern, energy efficient designs and creating brand new solutions. The red brick walls in the so called Frosterus section of the building were previously a dark mass, but they are now lit with spotlights installed at the end of a shaft and pointed upwards. The final result is not entirely even, but it brings out the contours of the surface without creating unpleasant cast shadows. The old, traditional light stripes and Stockmann logos are now lit more evenly than before by using state-of-the-art LED technology. The colour of the LED strips can be changed, but thankfully the property owner is cautious enough to save the different colours for special occasions. By accentuating elements of the structure, the top of the façade has been given a more creative lighting design than the bottom. The eastern glass façade of the building has been lit with coloured LED floodlights from behind the glass, resulting in an understated, even look. However, this solution also allows other lighting variations. Finally, the Argos end of the building has been lit by using a projector technology where the light distribution is designed to avoid hitting windows or the pedestrian zone, creating extremely even façade lighting with no glare effect and an optimal proportion of light in relation to the surroundings. The Christmas lighting by the windows at the building’s gable end has also been renovated, and it is used sparingly as part of seasonal lighting. The overall look showcases lighting that has been skillfully designed to pay homage to tradition without succumbing to competitive commercialisation.