Ikea opens sustainable city store in Vienna

The city centre store that Ikea had announced last year, has finally opened its doors in Vienna yesterday. The sustainable store has no car park and focuses on smaller items.

160 trees, no car park

The design of ‘Ikea Westbahnhof’ is a radical break from the traditional big blue boxes of the home furnishing chain. The seven-storey, grid-shaped building offers an oasis of nature in one of the busiest parts of the Austrian capital. 160 trees were planted on the balconies, which help to keep the interior cool. Everything else too is geared towards sustainability, with the use of solar panels and hyper-efficient heating.

The store is designed for urban shoppers who come on foot, by bike or public transport. There is no dedicated car park. Ikea Westbahnhof focuses primarily on smaller items, selling about 3,000 in total. There is no furniture warehouse, but those who do buy larger items can have them delivered to their homes within 24 hours. Transportation is done by electric trucks.

The two upper floors of the building are occupied by a hostel that is operated by the Accor Group. A large sun terrace on the roof is freely accessible and will also function as a space for events.