Ikea & Pre-Fab Homes

Today we read a great an article unveiling the “BoKlok” homes that are being built by Ikea.

“Mention Ikea and most people will think of smart, stylish, and affordable furniture. The news that the company actually makes entire houses – and for over ten years now – will come as a shock to many. Since 1996, Ikea and its partner Skanska have been quietly experimenting with the idea of building affordable houses on factory floors. These houses, known as BoKlok – Swedish for “smart living”, are now available in five countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and the UK.

Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of Ikea, had been mulling over the idea of building homes for a while when, in 1996, he sensed the right time had come, according to the company. The real estate market in Sweden, Ikea’s home country, was prohibitively expensive for many families. Demand exceeded supply in the residential property sector. More importantly, small households that compromise one to three people were, and still are, under-served by the existing market. In Stockholm, more than 85 percent of households were considered “small” in 2008 while 75 percent of the countryside fell in the same category…

When the BoKlok project began, the prefabricated homes were sold at specific Ikea stores. Currently, owners are chosen through a lottery system. “Interest in our apartments has been so great that, rather than operate a waiting list, we distribute apartments through the drawing of lots,” according to Ikea. While the concept remains the same, the design of the houses has been adjusted to the tastes of their target countries. What is best selling in Sweden doesn’t necessarily translate in the Danish, Norwegian, Finnish and UK markets.

In Sweden, Ikea offers three types of BoKlok homes – multiple family houses, apartments, and has recently added villas to its line. They all have high ceilings and extra large windows to allow in maximum light. Most are fitted with oak floors, tiled bathrooms, and Ikea kitchens. The villas come with maximum adaptability to customers’ tastes while the other two types have limitations. The homes are built in modules and then delivered to their final site.  Assembly, done by Ikea itself, takes a short time – just a day to install a six apartment building. “By the time the evening falls, the roof is on and the building is completely watertight,” according to the company. ”

Read the entire article HERE