IKEA in Vesterbro, designed for a green future.

IKEA in Vesterbro, designed for a green future.

Some projects soar beyond expectations, boldly committing from day one to surpass their own constraints. They change the world – if not the entire world, then the closest part of it, the community where they belong. Engaging in innovative projects is a source of pride for OCRAM, and today, our attention is directed towards the new IKEA in Vesterbro, Copenhagen.

An Oasis in the heart of the city.

The name IKEA conjures a set of instantly recognizable signals: the modular formula that defines most of its products, many of which have become symbols of our urban culture; the product design, consistently extended to packaging and the practical assembly aspect; or the iconic yellow logo on a blue background and the structure of stores – vast spaces we navigate with familiarity, whether we’re in Scandinavia, a sunny Southern European country, or the chilly province of Saskatchewan.

Copyright Illustrations: Dorte Mandrup A/S

Amidst the bustling city of Copenhagen, in the Vesterbro district, an IKEA store is emerging as the epitome of change: both for IKEA itself and the concept we hold of it. Guided by the mission to reshape the building’s rapport with the community, while also envisioning design with a strong commitment to the environment and sustainability.

The growing occurrence of these phenomena underscores the importance of reassessing our energy choices in response to the climate crisis. Constructing buildings entails giving new functions and meanings to spaces. The project of architect Dorte Mandrup’s eponymous studio for the new IKEA store mirrors this process, founded on the daily management of energy, sustainability, and the surrounding community— the cornerstone principles of the entire project. Aspires to earn the world’s most stringent sustainability assessment label, the BREEAM Certification.

An endeavour emphasized by the 1450m2 of solar panels and the use of water from local canals to cool the shop. Ocram’s Air Handling Units have been meticulously designed with energy-saving systems and heat recovery technologies, employing various methods for enhanced operational efficiency.

The home goods retailer encourages urban visitors to adopt sustainable transportation methods, featuring a spacious section dedicated to bicycle parking and offering cargo bikes for customers who wish to transport their furniture home while burning some calories.

The new store aims to support Copenhagen’s endeavors as it strives to become the world’s first carbon-neutral city by 2025. In alignment with the city’s eco-conscious outlook, IKEA is also taking a substantial stride towards achieving its goal of becoming a circular business by 2030.

Shopping where style and crisp air intertwine…

Indoors and outdoors

This isn’t the first time OCRAM has manufactured equipment for IKEA store ventilation systems. However, the building set to open in the summer of 2023 stands out from all the others. The Air Handling Units have been meticulously designed to fully align with the goals of the new project. 12 AHUs will deliver purified air flows throughout the space, ranging from 10.000m3/h to 36.000m3/h. Our Air Handling Units are EUROVENT-certified for performance, equipped with efficient heat recovery systems that guarantee low energy consumption and a comfortable in-store temperature.

The store’s exterior is also a reflection of its harmonious blend with nature. The rooftop transformed into a park creates a city oasis with hundreds of trees, native species, shrubs, and insect shelters that support biodiversity. Sheltered areas from the wind and sun beckon spontaneous gatherings. Small green havens stretch over 150 meters of landscape design. This is a genuine oasis positioned 20 meters above the bustle of the streets and the close railway station, offering itself to a densely populated area of the city, lacking in green spaces.

Copyright Illustrations: Dorte Mandrup A/S

But the entire building challenges the classic complement of accompanying the blue and yellow elements of IKEA. Here, the facade adorns itself with shades of green as it draws inspiration from the organic flow of a billowing white curtain. Hanging from the edges of the roof, these are slightly parted in selected sections to reveal the exhibition spaces within the store.

Date

02 November 2021

Share

You may also be interested