IKEA Opens Revamped City-Centre Shop in Historic 1920s Building

Swedish furniture giant IKEA has officially unveiled its new city-centre location on London’s Oxford Street, breathing new life into a Grade II-listed 1920s building. The ambitious refurbishment, led by UK architecture studio BDP, spans three floors – the ground floor and two basement levels – and opens its doors to the public tomorrow.

This marks a key step in IKEA’s strategy to adapt to urban environments, bringing its distinct home furnishing experience into the heart of high-density cities.

Tailored for Urban Living: Designed by Londoners, for Londoners

The standout feature of the new Oxford Street store is its locally inspired layout. IKEA has collaborated with real Londoners to design a series of small-space room settings that reflect the city’s tight living quarters. The upper basement is divided into themed sections such as bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and children’s spaces.

“What is super unique to the Oxford Street shop is what we call ‘culture clusters’ – every room set has been designed by somebody who lives in London,” said Matt Gould, IKEA’s market manager. “They don’t have these big, grand kitchens. People are living in super small spaces. So our designs here must connect with that reality.”

Ground Floor Features Curated Selections for the City Customer

At street level, IKEA offers a handpicked range of products selected specifically for the London lifestyle. These curated collections are informed by the needs and tastes of local residents, offering items that reflect both limited space and city living trends.

Food Hall and Traditional Market Hall

The store also includes a deli and dining space located on the upper basement level, adding a social element to the IKEA experience. Below that, the lower basement houses a more traditional IKEA market hall, mirroring the layout of larger out-of-town branches.

Learning from Hammersmith: Creating a Familiar Yet Unique Experience

The Oxford Street branch builds on lessons learned from IKEA’s first city-centre store in Hammersmith, which opened in 2022. Customers at that location preferred room-specific layouts over open-plan floors. IKEA has incorporated this feedback, balancing its traditional “IKEA flow” with custom features tailored for the high street.

Reviving the High Street: IKEA’s Commitment to Urban Centres

“We targeted Oxford Street because we want to be part of the high street,” Gould noted. “There has been a challenge in the high street over the last few years. People are shopping online and staying in. So we needed something different to bring them back out.”

The Oxford Street store, along with IKEA’s upcoming Brighton location, underscores the company’s renewed focus on revitalising urban retail spaces.

BDP’s Sensitive Restoration of a Historic Building

Architecture studio BDP took a “light touch” approach to restore the seven-storey, Grade II-listed building. While IKEA occupies the lower three floors, the upper levels have been converted into modern office spaces with roof terraces and city views.

BDP revealed original steel columns by removing encasements and aimed to preserve as much of the building’s historic character as possible.

“One of the biggest mantras was to work with the building and make good, not change something for just change’s sake,” said BDP principal architect Garry Wilding. “The lighter you touch a building, the longer it will last.”

A New Chapter in Democratic Design

IKEA’s Oxford Street store reflects the brand’s global push to offer accessible, well-designed furniture for all, recently echoed in its “democratic design” showcase during Milan Design Week. This store, infused with local identity and thoughtful adaptation, stands as a modern symbol of sustainable and community-responsive retail.