IKEA looks to space travel for new micro-living furniture collection – Dezeen

IKEA is set to produce a collection ofspace-saving furniturethat draws on the logistics of space travelto find innovativesolutions for shrinking living spaces.

The new collection was announced today at the furniture company's annual Democratic Design Day, which is taking place in lmhult, Sweden. While it hasn't been revealed whatproducts will be included in the collection, IKEA says it will launch in 2019.

IKEA's Democratic Design Day aims to make the company's plans more transparent by sharing some of its behind-the-scenes research and processes. It takes place each yearin lmhult, the home of the first IKEA store.

Working alongside NASA and Lund University School of Industrial Design, the space collection will "tap into what scientists and engineers learn from spaceflight" particularly the way they deal with restricted living areas.

As part of theproject, IKEA also revealed that it is working alongside NASA to figure out howinterior spaces might be designed for life on Mars, andhowthey could make the planet feel like home tothose who would live there.

"This collaboration is not about IKEA going to Mars, but we are curious about life in space, the challenges and needs, and what we can make out of that experience for the many people," Michael Nikolic, creative leader at IKEA Range and Supply.

"When you design for life in a spacecraft or planetary surface habitat on Mars, you need to be creative yet precise, find ways to repurpose things and think carefully about sustainability aspects," he added. "With urbanisation and environmental challenges on earth, we need to do the same."

The company attributes the idea for this new collection to a change in our living conditions, citing shrinking homes and a 70 per cent increase in city living as the main drivers.

"Urban challenges such as small living spaces will lead to changes in the home," said IKEA. "Already today downsizing and micro-living is a reality in big cities."

"In spaceflights, small space living has always been a reality. IKEA will, therefore, tap into what scientists and engineers learn from spaceflight to Mars, and apply these discoveries to products and methods for everyday life at home, here on earth."

The Swedish furniture giant joins a number of designers who are already responding to smaller, more flexible spaces with furniture that makes the most of every inch of the floors, walls and even the ceiling.

Recent solutions include a hanging storage system byJordi Iranzo, aspace-efficient "living cube" by Till Knneker and a shelving system that comprises three interchangeable desktops by Matej Chabera.

Last year, IKEA announced its collaborations with Hay and Tom Dixon during its Democratic Design Dayevent.

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IKEA looks to space travel for new micro-living furniture collection - Dezeen