SUNDOWNER is an iconic pendant designed by Jørn Utzon in 1948 characterised by its four-shade construction and how the light elegantly illuminates the shape. The soft curves and opposite-facing shades are designed prior to Utzon’s architectural masterpiece, the Sydney Opera House. With its dynamic design, the SUNDOWNER pendant expresses a clear linkage to the unique shell structures that have adorned the Sydney Harbour for more than half a century.

The direct, downward-facing light and a carefully placed light source ensure a soft and optimised light. Through small gaps inside the pendant, a discrete amount of light escapes and illuminates the top and bottom shade. The elegant indirect light makes the lamp a striking display in itself.

Back in 1948, the shades of the SUNDOWNER pendant were produced by hand under fairly primitive conditions by Jørn Utzon and his friend and colleague, Sven Middelboe. Post-war rationing meant that Utzon and Middelboe had to work effectively to ensure earnings – and production of own lighting designs became the start of their professional career. The name ‘SUNDOWNER’ brings warm climes to mind and when turned on, the last rays of sunlight can be seen in the horizontal middle part of the lamp. Shaped to provide a comfortable illumination and set the right atmosphere as the sun goes down.     

On the island of Mallorca, Jørn Utzon built himself a house on a steep cliff facing the Mediterranean Sea. The building is named after his wife and became an idyllic residence for his family. The building’s large, open windows are designed to highlight the soft sunlight and blend with the unique surroundings while the traditional Mallorcan sandstone give the entire building a rough expression, vivid display of light and muted rose feel. We celebrate Jørn Utzon’s ability to embrace nature and light with a special edition colour for the SUNDOWNER pendant named ‘Mallorcan’ inspired by the sandstone blocks of the Can Lis residence. The distinctive colour makes the pendant both contemporary and timeless.