3_0_ScanMag_66_July_2014_Text_Svetlana:Scan Magazine 1
27/6/14
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Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Made in Sweden
Brand new IKEA Museum But excited as we may be about the ÅRGÅNG collection, IKEA takes the celebration of its story to yet another level with a brand new IKEA Museum due to open in 2015 where the old IKEA Älmhult shop was once located. Referred to as “a house of stories”, the museum will exhibit design items while telling the stories of the people, challenges, opportunities, and design decisions that have contributed to what IKEA is today. Moreover, IKEA fans are encouraged to chip in, as items from your attic or your parents’ shed can make it into the exhibition of old and new IKEA designs. Too keen on your IKEA staples to give them away? Contribute instead with your personal BILLY bookcase or KLIPPAN sofa experience and make it onto the BILLY & KLIPPAN blog.
Retro fans or not, most Swedes and indeed Scandinavians more generally will feel at least a twinge of nostalgia at the thought of those white or birch veneer bookcases, sidetables and TV stands, while the ÅRGÅNG collection is set to not just make another profitable IKEA venture but, in an understated yet beautiful way, tell the story of IKEA of Sweden as well as that elusive, admirable Nordic design heritage.
Top left: The LÖVBACKEN coffee table, originally called LÖVET, which re-launched with great success in 2013 and is rumoured to have sold at a Parisian flea market for 9000 SEK (approximately £800). Middle left: The hugely popular KLÄPPA armchair, originally named BUTTERFLY. Bottom left: EKENÄSET armchair Below: MATSEDEL kaffekopp Bottom: The KOLVHIRS fabric, originally sold under the name of TURKO.
IKEA: the timeline 1940s IKEA was founded by Ingvar Kamprad in 1943, selling among other things fountain pens, cigarette lighters and nylon stockings. 1950s It was during the ’50s that IKEA moved to its home in Älmhult and opened a furniture showroom. The first catalogue saw the light of day, as did the first pieces of mountable IKEA furniture. 1960s IKEA expanded during the 1960s, with furniture production moving abroad and new shops opening throughout Scandinavia. The old teak furniture was replaced by oak pieces, and the range grew. This was when the serveyourself concept launched. 1970s With solid pine furniture came a new era with a new concept of living. IKEA expanded into Europe and the famous BILLY bookcase was introduced. 1980s In the 1980s, IKEA expanded further beyond Europe, and darker furniture, vivid colours, metals and colourful fabrics made up the collection. The customer club IKEA FAMILY was born. 1990s With a light look of white birch and silver, the ’90s saw IKEA’s production grow and a Children’s IKEA being born. 2000s With the millennium came social initiatives and a heavy focus on sustainability. Details and quality were key focal points in the design department, and e-commerce was introduced.
ÅRGÅNG: a historical design collection ÅRGÅNG went on sale on 4 July 2014 at a number of selected IKEA stores across Sweden, including Kungens Kurva, Barkarby, Malmö, Älmhult and Uppsala.
For more information, please visit: www.ikea.com
Issue 66 | July 2014 | 23