IKEA’s Smart City Project Reimagines Future Home Design
IKEA has begun a major new project that is reimagining the way we live. Its “smart city” project is based on the idea that our homes will be connected to the Internet. This will allow us to monitor and control the various functions of our home. From security to energy usage, we will be able to take action whenever we feel that something is not right.
Invisible Roommates
The smart city project from Swedish furniture behemoth IKEA is about more than just furniture. It reimagines the future of home design, and in the process, makes your house a better place to live.
One of the most impressive aspects of this latest initiative is that it’s not just about a new store or storey, but a brand new business unit, Home Smart. As the name suggests, it is responsible for leading the company’s digital transformation.
At its core, it is a business model designed to take advantage of the power of the Internet of Things, and harness the data that it generates. In short, Home Smart is a nexus of technology, design and innovation that helps customers make their homes more comfortable and functional.
Aside from a few slick-looking products, the real trick is to create a symbiosis between the product and its users. For example, Ikea’s voice-activated blinds can be controlled using an IKEA app and Siri or Alexa.
Chain of Traceability
Smart cities and smart gadgets are all the rage, but IKEA is not the only game in town. Eversource is also on the prowl for smarter ways to save money and power. Its “Make Ready” program aims to improve EV adoption in New England and is making a name for itself in the smart home department. Lastly, Ikea’s smart city project has been on the cutting edge for a couple of years now. The company has a dedicated team of whizzes tasked with innovating ways to improve the user experience, from the design and construction of smart buildings to the deployment of the latest technology. This year’s most notable additions include the introduction of the industry’s first smart parking system and the creation of a smart energy management system. As such, Ikea may be interested in using a patented technology or two.
In fact, the smart city concept is the brainchild of an internal program known as IKEA Innovation. The resulting program is a collaboration between the Swedish furniture maker and a number of leading innovators in the smart building, smart mobility, smart energy, and smart livable communities industries. While the project is still in its infancy, a first round of prototypes is on the way, with an eye towards the launch of a more comprehensive program in the near future.
Matter
Ikea has launched a series of collaborations and projects in order to reimagine the future of home design. These projects are aimed at exploring how architecture, technology, and everyday habits can interact to create a better quality of life for the entire family.
The first project explores how living in a tight-knit community can help provide a sense of belonging and shared services. It also looks at ways to make future living more sustainable.
The second project focuses on multifunctional living. It explores how advances in technology can improve the overall experience of home life, while addressing challenges such as cost and energy efficiency.
In the third project, IKEA is working to empower people to be themselves at work. This will help people to better utilize their time and resources, while also helping to make their job more pleasant.
One of the key projects involved is an initiative to expand the DIY model to city centers. This will allow residents to easily customize spaces, using sliding partitions to create “pop-up” rooms.
Better Living
IKEA’s smart city project is reimagining the future of home design. The Swedish firm has teamed up with Sonos and Google to create a smart speaker and light that will work with both voice assistants. It’s a step toward the company’s ambition to become a major player in the homeware industry.
To get to this point, IKEA has been researching the future of living in cities. They have done hundreds of house visits in different countries. Their research focuses on multiple benefits of a tight-knit community, including a sense of belonging, access to shared facilities, and sustainable living.
As part of this research, IKEA has launched two projects: Home Futures and Better Living. Both explore how to make living in the future more comfortable and inclusive.
For Home Futures, IKEA commissioned a group of designers to explore how people might live in the future. Specifically, they looked at how living can be changed by transient lifestyles, shifting needs, and the need for more shared spaces.
