the IKEA home of tomorrow is a self-sufficient, plant-filled heaven

according to research conducted by IKEA, by 2050, 70% of the world population will live in cities, making it obvious that we need to rethink the way we live. better homes mean better lives period. and one that takes into consideration not only our wellbeing but also that of the planet is definitely a winner. built in szczecin, poland, the IKEA home of tomorrow is exactly this — a place where you can learn how to live in complete harmony with nature.

the IKEA home of tomorrow is the brand’s new urban concept where visitors can learn how to introduce environmentally friendly solutions into their homes. these solutions address future challenges such as excessive amount of waste, exhaustion of natural resources, droughts and the corresponding rise in food prices, as well as the need to stay in healthier and greener spaces.

set within an abandoned, 120-year-old building, the IKEA home of tomorrow was designed to take into account the circulation of food, water, waste and other resources between the different rooms, creating a sort of metabolism where the outcome of one process becomes the basis for another. the heart of the system is the home garden which is based on a soil-free system that uses 90-95% less water comparing to tradition farming. owing to the use of aquaponics, hydroponics and aeroponics, it is possible to grow tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, cabbage, legumes, strawberries, microgreens, herbs, spiraling, and several species of edible fungi. in other words, a full range of vegetarian nutrition.

‘if one was to create such farm at home, they would have over a half of the daily demand for calories and energy,’ says paulina grabowska, who was responsible for the home farms and the light therapy installation mentioned above. the fresh ingredients can be taken from the indoor garden directly into the kitchen and dining room, where visitors will learn how to make vegetarian dishes.

all waste generated during the food preparation process is segregated in large containers that form an element of the interior design. additionally, the kitchen accommodates composers in which the organic waste is turned into a natural fertilizer for the plants. plants are irrigated with water which has to be replaced every now and then in the aquaponic, hydroponic and aeroponic farms. then, as a result of vaporization, water comes back to circulation again.

‘we wish to encourage the residents of szczecin to take responsibility for waste. I believe that only by starting to vote with our wallets for environment-friendly solutions, we will create a substantive step towards sustainable life,’ says gustaw jakubowski, IKEA, who was responsible for bringing IKEA home of tomorrow to life.