IKEA Museum

Size
2100 sq m

Year
2016

Architect
Wilkinson Eyre

Role: Project Director

The IKEA Museum is housed in the first of IKEA’s large stores in Almhult, Sweden, first built in 1958. This project was undertaken from Masterplanning to Implementation phase and was a collaboration with IKEA.

The first phase was undertaken with Wilkinson Eyre Architects who worked with RAA to create visitor routes through the building and infrastructure to support the exhibition. RAA worked extensively on content development with IKEA, and were responsible for developing with the client all messages, themes and stories. Part of RAA’s role was to direct research and help develop an IKEA Museum ‘voice’ that was independent and complementary to IKEA’s worldwide stores. 

A three part narrative was developed: Our Roots, Our Story and Your Story. Notable features were an Immersive Environment in the Our Roots galleries which used newly commissioned photography to capture the feel of Swedish landscape. Our Story was designed to deliver the kind of inspiring and humorous environments that only IKEA can deliver. This area included an upside-down roomset and a photobooth for visitors to take photos of themselves for an IKEA catalogue cover.  

Design: Ralph Appelbaum Associates