Vienna, the first car-free IKEA store that redefines the eco-friendly city
The building designed by Querkraft Architekten incorporates 160 trees in the facade (Rinnovabili.it) – It seems a contradiction, yet the first IKEA car-free store was recently inaugurated in Vienna. The project of the well-known Swedish furniture house wants to define a new concept of the city, more ecological, as free as possible from private cars and where […]
The building designed by Querkraft Architekten incorporates 160 trees in its facade
(Rinnovabili.it) – It seems a contradiction, yet the first store was recently inaugurated in Vienna IKEA without a car. The project of the well-known Swedish furniture house wants to define a new concept of the city, more ecologicalas free as possible from private cars and where the social relations they have great space.
The winning proposal for IKEA Westbahnhof it belongs to the local architects Querkraft Architekten. At first glance, the building resembles a classic store shelf. A minimalist structure predominates, where white is the color. Composed of steel and concrete to design terraces and balconies.
But the seven-story building hides something more. While Ikea occupies the first floors of the building, the upper floors are reserved for Hotel from 345 beds. This mix functionalwanted by the clients themselves, it creates a lively place 24 hours a day, making the area safer.
Ecological city, city without cars
The new IKEA store responds to a change in user behavior and in the mobility itself of the Austrian capital. Not being accessible by car, the shop is all about public transport and online sales. New visitors will be able to experience the spaces as a place for socializing and meeting, without the worry of having to collect their purchases. Without a doubt, the car-free goal has been achieved also thanks to the already efficient public mobility of Vienna. Where nearly two-thirds of the residents of the most central neighborhoods are not assigned a private car.
BREEAM sustainability Excellent
The building envelope designed by the architects of Querkraft Architektenaims to achieve certification Sea Bream Excellent. Next to an excellent thermal insulationthe IKEA store is powered from clean energy of photovoltaic panels on the roof. While the large projections of the façade, up to 4.5 meters deep, create shading from the sun’s rays, allowing natural light to penetrate the building without overheating the rooms.
In addition, the facade houses 160 trees of various sizes, which regulate to lower the temperature by about 2 degrees during the hottest periods of the year, and making the environment green and pleasant.