So much thundered that it rained. Have you ever been to a big IKEA store? Have you seen those curious furniture configurations in a few square meters, that they have a sort of sick fascination over me? I've always wondered if IKEA would one day make a house with those features. Today I have the answer.
Furniture giant Ikea has joined forces with small publishing house Escape to produce a tiny house. But really tiny tiny. Yes, one of those small houses, sometimes on wheels, that your editor likes so much. Aptly named the Ikea Tiny Home Project, the 57-square-meter model is a self-sufficient mobile Ikea mini home. Yes, it can operate off-grid, off-grid, powered by solar panels on the roof.
It's very “Apocalyptic”, isn't it?
The Ikea Tiny Home Project was conceived in an effort to celebrate the tiny house movement and inspire others to live more minimally and sustainably. It is a customized version of Boho view XL by Escape, an “all-inclusive” tiny house that costs more or less the same as a small SUV. All finished in cedar (treated with a Japanese smoking method to better preserve it), the self-sufficient mini house is just 8 meters long.
You would expect only one floor, right? And you are right. The interior of the house is arranged on a single level: the inhabitants of the tiny house enter the kitchen area, which obviously includes an Ikea piece of furniture (like the others) made with recycled wood and plastic bottles. A sink, a small refrigerator, a microwave oven and a portable electric hob also fit into the small space. The living room of the self-contained mini house is located not far away (ha ha ha) and contains a sofa with built-in storage and a folding table that does double duty as a dining table and desk.
The mini house looks like a small "Swedish" embassy. From the wooden floor to the rationalization of spaces, the Ikea Inside factor is very visible. The cost of the self-sufficient house? Rumors speak of a price not too much higher than that of a small camper, around 60.000 euros.
Are you feeling sleepy? The sleeping area of the mini house houses a double bed that lifts up to reveal even more space below. The “bedroom” of the IKEA tiny house also contains additional storage space in the form of a wardrobe, shelves and hooks. There is generous glazing throughout and the interior is finished in sustainably sourced white pine.
