As of the 21st of 2009, at the opening of the light year 2010, Eindhoven owns a new landmark. State of the art design, structural engineering and lighting technology are compressed to an imposing icon for ‘the city of light’.

Dynamic street lighting of Rovaniemi promenade and Rakovalkea lighting column were rewarded in respected lighting competition, GE Edison Award. A Special Citation reward was given for exceptional creativity and community-responsiveness for Valoa Design Oy from Tampere, Finland. Award was presented in New York City. Illuminator was designed by industrial designer, MA Reija Pasanen, who is working for Valmont Tehomet Company as a designer.

Rovaniemi is located on the Artic Circle which defines the southern boundary for the night of the midnight sun, as well as that for the polar night – the area without any sunlight in the middle of winter. Light round-the-clock in summer and darkness in winter brings distinctive shades into people’s lives.

The midnight sun, the beautiful blue light in the polar winter and the entire changing spectrum of light and darkness has formed the starting points in designing the lighting project. Dynamic lighting represents Northern lights waving in bright tones of color. Furthermore, the design of the lighting column originates from a slow-burning hearth called Rakovalkea – a fireplace carved of a tree trunk and used as a source of light since the ancient times.

Close to 100 pieces of Rakovalkea lighting columns are manufactured by Valmont Tehomet , who was also responsible for technical design and fulfillment. Integrity of street lighting is dynamic and it is implemented with color-changing LEDs integrated into a custom column design. More info and video on attached document.