diff --git a/components/blocks/HeroVideo.tsx b/components/blocks/HeroVideo.tsx
index e6ce42e27..7efcb16e9 100644
--- a/components/blocks/HeroVideo.tsx
+++ b/components/blocks/HeroVideo.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { Button } from '@/components/ui/Button';
 import Image from 'next/image';
 import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
 import { usePathname } from 'next/navigation';
+import { preload } from 'react-dom';
 
 interface HeroVideoProps {
   data?: any;
@@ -41,6 +42,10 @@ export function HeroVideo(props: HeroVideoProps) {
   const secondaryCtaLabel = props.secondaryCtaLabel || data?.secondaryCtaLabel || (currentLocale === 'de' ? 'Projekt anfragen' : 'Inquire Project');
   const secondaryCtaHref = props.secondaryCtaHref || data?.secondaryCtaHref || `/${currentLocale}/contact`;
 
+  if (posterSrc) {
+    preload(posterSrc, { as: 'image' });
+  }
+
   const [videoSrcLoaded, setVideoSrcLoaded] = useState(false);
   useEffect(() => {
     let interactionTriggered = false;
@@ -73,28 +78,30 @@ export function HeroVideo(props: HeroVideoProps) {
       {/* Background color while video loads */}
       <div className="absolute inset-0 z-0 bg-neutral-dark" />
       
-      {/* ALWAYS render the Next.js optimized Image as the LCP element */}
-      <Image
-        key={`img-${pathname}-${posterSrc}`}
-        src={posterSrc}
-        alt={posterAlt}
-        fill
-        className="object-cover z-[1] pointer-events-none filter contrast-125 saturate-110 brightness-90"
-        sizes="100vw"
-        priority
-      />
+      {/* Dramatic Vignette & Fade to content */}
+      <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-[radial-gradient(ellipse_at_center,_var(--tw-gradient-stops))] from-transparent via-black/20 to-black/80 z-[2]" />
+      <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-gradient-to-t from-neutral-dark via-neutral-dark/60 to-transparent z-[3]" />
+      
+      {/* Top Fade for Header Navigation Readability */}
+      <div className="absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-48 bg-gradient-to-b from-black/70 to-transparent z-[3] pointer-events-none" />
 
-      {/* Render video on top if available, but defer src to avoid blocking LCP */}
-      {videoUrl && (
+      {videoUrl ? (
         <video
           key={`${pathname}-${videoUrl}`}
-          className="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-cover z-[2] pointer-events-none filter contrast-125 saturate-110 brightness-90"
-          src={videoSrcLoaded ? videoUrl : undefined}
+          className="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-cover z-[1] pointer-events-none filter contrast-125 saturate-110 brightness-90"
+          src={videoUrl}
+          poster={posterSrc}
           autoPlay
           muted
           loop
           playsInline
-          preload="none"
+          preload="auto"
+        />
+      ) : (
+        <div
+          key={`img-${pathname}-${posterSrc}`}
+          className="absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-cover z-[1] pointer-events-none filter contrast-125 saturate-110 brightness-90"
+          style={{ backgroundImage: `url(${posterSrc})`, backgroundSize: 'cover', backgroundPosition: 'center' }}
         />
       )}
       
diff --git a/components/blocks/ReferencesSlider.tsx b/components/blocks/ReferencesSlider.tsx
index c394272d9..5ad35cf6c 100644
--- a/components/blocks/ReferencesSlider.tsx
+++ b/components/blocks/ReferencesSlider.tsx
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ export function ReferencesSlider(props: ReferencesSliderProps) {
           onMouseLeave={onMouseLeave}
           onMouseUp={onMouseUp}
           onMouseMove={onMouseMove}
-          className={`select-none flex gap-6 overflow-x-auto pb-8 pt-4 px-6 md:px-[max(2rem,calc((100vw-1280px)/2))] lg:px-[max(2.5rem,calc((100vw-1280px)/2))] [scrollbar-width:none] [-ms-overflow-style:none] [&::-webkit-scrollbar]:hidden ${isDragging ? 'cursor-grabbing snap-none' : 'cursor-grab snap-x snap-mandatory'}`}
+          className={`select-none flex gap-6 overflow-x-auto pb-8 pt-4 px-4 sm:px-6 md:px-8 lg:px-10 xl:px-[calc(50vw_-_640px_+_3rem)] 2xl:px-[calc(50vw_-_700px_+_4rem)] [scrollbar-width:none] [-ms-overflow-style:none] [&::-webkit-scrollbar]:hidden ${isDragging ? 'cursor-grabbing snap-none' : 'cursor-grab snap-x snap-mandatory'}`}
         >
           {references.map((ref, i) => {
             const imgSrc = ref.image