The good neighbour
Urban, car-free IKEA furniture store and hostel with public roof terrace

Car-free + urban

This building makes an important contribution to the future of a living and ecological city and also to the future of retailing – this is an urban IKEA with excellent connections to the public transport system and an inviting roof terrace – a good neighbour.

At the briefing stage already, the client formulated the aim: “We want to be a good neighbour”. The architects approach to achieving this goal is reflected by a building that represents an added value, also for its surroundings. The roof terrace accessible to the public that offers somewhere to drink coffee, to relax and to enjoy the view of the city, and the large amount of greenery on all the facades – these are all aspects that contribute to being “a good neighbour”.

Rethinking The Future Awards 2022
First Award | Commercial (Built)

©Christina Häusler, Hertha Hurnaus

External shelving  

The building’s external shell recalls a set of shelves. This 4.3-metre-deep, shelf-like zone runs around the building and provides shade. It allows spaces to expand, provides room for terraces and greenery, as well as for servant elements like lifts, escape stairs and building services.

Openness allows interaction

The entrance level is a lively place – a generous void links it to the retail areas that stretch in front of it along the street. A void extending right through the interior of the building allows visual contacts between the different storeys.

©Christina Häusler, Hertha Hurnaus

160 trees on and around the building

Trees on the facade and on the roof have a perceptible impact on the microclimate. As the trees could be placed at different heights and depths in the building there is more planting than would be possible on the building’s ground area. The climbing plants and trees of the IKEA furniture store have a cooling and humidifying effect – like a kind of natural air conditioning system. The air temperature improves at the pedestrian level, too. Computer simulations indicate a relevant temperature decrease of 1.5°C.

Centralised + efficient building services

To ensure efficient conditioning of the building the services are based on a simple principle: short distances and direct access. In the building the infrastructure is left visible, which increases the perceived height of the space.

©Christina Häusler, Hertha Hurnaus

Mix of functions through open floor plans

The prefabricated reinforced concrete columns stand on a c. 10 x 10-metre grid that allows flexibility in the use and design of the spaces. Adaptations to meet changing demands can be made easily, as is already becoming apparent. IKEA retail occupies the lower floors, the Jo&Joe Hostel with 345 beds is located on the top two floors. This mix creates a building that is alive 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.