The car-free IKEA store in Vienna features a contemporary gridded design and a playful facade that incorporates greenery and glazed units. The facade was modeled after the aesthetic (and functional) sensibility of bookshelves. The structure was designed by local studio Querkraft Architekten which emphasized sustainable transportation practices by not including parking spaces within the floor plan of the furniture megastore. The idea was that the car-free IKEA store would only be accessible by foot or through public transport. This answers "radically changed customer and mobility behaviors," according to the brand and the architects. In fact, IKEA reports that "around two-thirds of Viennese people living in the inner-city districts of Vienna do not even have a car anymore."
When purchasing items from car-free IKEA store locations, customers can simply have their items shipped to their homes, hassle-free.
Gridded Car-Free Furniture Stores
The Car-Free Ikea Store in Vienna Has a Uniform Aesthetic
Trend Themes
1. Car-free Retail - Designing retail spaces that do not cater to car-based transportation.
2. Gridded Storefronts - Aesthetic storefront designs inspired by bookshelves and incorporating greenery.
3. Sustainable Transportation Practices - Encouraging sustainable transportation by not including parking spaces in the design.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture - Creating furniture stores where customers can purchase items that can be shipped to their homes.
2. Architecture - Designing retail spaces with minimal environmental impact and catering to customers without cars.
3. Sustainability - Incorporating sustainable transportation and minimal environmental impact designs into retail spaces.