Collab Alert: IKEA X NASA
For the first time in history, more people live in cities than in the countryside – and according to UN this number will be 70% in 2050.
With small, compact and minimal homes on the increase, Ikea has been taking the notion of space pretty seriously. So seriously, in fact, that last year the Swedish furniture store sent a team to NASA's Mars Desert Research Station in Utah in order to take inspiration for a new collection from the experts of confined living conditions: astronauts.
Tapping in to what scientists and engineers learn from a spaceflight to Mars, Ikea is applying the learnings to products and methods for everyday life at home, here on earth.
So what can we expect fromIkea's NASA-inspired collection? The collection includes an air purifier, a terrarium pod, a modular, block-based furniture system, a small indoor garden, and a new super lightweight material.
Thelightweightveneer material is made of ‘wood and waste’and rolled into hollow tubes which can be taken apart and clamped together using connectors to build just about anything, be it sofas, wardrobes, beds, or something else completely – a bit like using Lego blocks.
Their hollow veneer design means that they are extremely lightweight, multifunctional, and best of all – sustainable.
Then there's the ultra-chic air purifier which solves the problem of being exposed to environmental toxins, saving space, and looking good all at once.
Be The First To Know
The Livingetc newsletter is your shortcut to the now and the next in home design. Subscribe today to receive a stunning free 200-page book of the best homes from around the world.
Also in the range is a futuristic terrarium, designed for chicness and utility, with a sleek glass enclosure that ensures optimal sunlight for your plant's growth.
So, when can we get our hands on this futuristic, ground-breaking collection? There's currently a bit of a wait asthe collection won't be available until next year.
But hey, Mars wasn't built in a day.
Lotte is the Digital Editor for Livingetc, and has been with the website since its launch. She has a background in online journalism and writing for SEO, with previous editor roles at Good Living, Good Housekeeping, Country & Townhouse, and BBC Good Food among others, as well as her own successful interiors blog. When she's not busy writing or tracking analytics, she's doing up houses, two of which have features in interior design magazines. She's just finished doing up her house in Wimbledon, and is eyeing up Bath for her next project.
-
This Colorful London Home Looks Even More Magical Decorated for Christmas
Designer Cat Dal imbued this Victorian villa in London with a sense of 'solace' — a feeling perfect for Christmas but that doesn’t end there
By Pip Rich Published
-
9 Amazon Home Scents That Smell So Much More Expensive Than They Are
Because who doesn't love a delicious-smelling home on a budget?
By Brigid Kennedy Published
-
The simple way to a more sustainable and stylish life with Fisher & Paykel
This incredible new tech saves time, energy and has become the washing machine you need to know about
By Sponsored Published
-
Forget Cottagecore - Flora Fantasia by House of Hackney is Cottage hardcore
House of Hackney's Flora Fantasia collection blends the romanticised rural aesthetic with riotous punk elements
By Jacky Parker Published
-
Bert & May's new hexagon tiles collection is tapping into one of this year's biggest micro trends
Tap into the microtrend for hexagon tiles and make myriad patterns with this new collection from Bert & May
By Jacky Parker Published
-
Matthew Williamson’s tip for renovating a house on a budget is so simple, but incredibly effective
Renovating a house on a budget? See the savvy ways to control costs when managing an interior redesign
By Jacky Parker Published
-
The fabulous new Matthew Williamson furniture collection is a cocktail of color and print
This decorative Matthew Williamson furniture is the beautiful result of collaboration with Roome London
By Jacky Parker Published
-
Out & Out's new furniture collection is full of stylish storage solutions
This stylish storage will have your home organised in a jiffy - whatever its size
By Jacky Parker Published
-
Explore Sandra Bullock’s former coastal chic home in Georgia
Sandra Bullock has just sold her beautiful island beach house, giving us a glimpse at her coastal-inspired interior style.
By Lotte Brouwer Published
-
Stylish flat pack furniture - how this home design staple has suddenly got cool
Thought flat pack furniture was cheap and cheerful? FUZL Studio is proving otherwise with its new collection
By Jacky Parker Published