ddp design fair

IKEA — the world's largest Swedish DIY furniture and interior company — opened a new store in Vienna, Austria on August 26. The new IKEA concept store finally opened its doors after going through extensive consultations with the Vienna’s municipal government and the entire process from planning to initiation to construction over the past 10 years with an investment of 140 million euros. What is noteworthy is that the new concept store presents a blueprint for the future of retail by further evolving its existing businesses — what we are familiar with — including furniture, interior and restaurant.

One of the striking features of the new IKEA concept store is that it is accessible only by public transport or personal mobility devices (e.g., single-person transportation vehicle such as a bicycle or kick scooter or walking). According to IKEA's new concept, the store is designed for “urban shoppers who come without bringing their car”. It has no parking spaces at all.

Customers who are ready to leave the store after browsing the store’s shelves and finishing their shopping can use smartphones to self-checkout and take the purchased items with them or place an order for delivery and leave without the hassle of waiting in a long line to check out. To prevent carbon dioxide emissions, the purchased items are delivered straight to the customer’s doorstep by bicycle or electric car.

The building of the new IKEA concept store also reflects the new era of sustainability. It is said that 160 trees and gardening plants surrounding the building keep the indoor temperature cool on the hottest days of summer and reduce CO2 emissions in the atmosphere by 1,000 tons per year.

All images courtesy: IKEA.