One of the most Googled articles on PSFK is this one detailing IKEA’s plans to build prefab houses in Scotland. It’s been a while since we wrote it but now we have new news: Last month, planning permission was approved for the first British BoKlok development: 36 IKEA flats in St James Village, Gateshead will be completed by the end of the year. On the site, the Terraced Houses are described:
The BoKlok house represents modern, affordable living that would be particularly ideal for young families or couples preparing to start a family.
They come with the same package and high quality features as the flats, including IKEA kitchens, solar panels and low energy heating, and are designed to exceed all current UK Building Regulations Standards.
The two and three-bedroom houses are constructed using natural materials and as with the flats, are designed to make effective use of space
The Guardian has a good review of the project:
Each apartment, with two or three bedrooms, is expected to cost less than £100,000. More will follow – many more, probably, since BoKlok is quick to build, energy efficient and aimed at households earning between £15,000 and £30,000 a year.
…Expansion into the UK is a big step for BoKlok, but a logical one. It was conceived in 1996 in response to similar housing conditions to those of present-day UK: demand outstripping supply, rising prices, not enough homes being built at the affordable end of the market. Initially, the BoKlok team turned not to architects but to researchers. They tracked trends in the dwindling size of the average Swedish household, and identified the model BoKlok homeowner: a female single parent with one child, no car and an average income. They then studied how much she could afford in rent, and set their budgets accordingly. Surveys conducted at Ikea stores across Sweden revealed their potential customers’ housing priorities: the desire to live in secure, small-scale surroundings; proximity to the countryside; contact with neighbours; and homes that were light, well-planned, functional and furnished with natural materials.
…Is Britain ready for Scandinavian living? …Faced with the alternative, a red-brick terraced Wimpey or Barratt home, buyers are likely to see the appeal of BoKlok. Even if the Wimpeys and Barratts are upping their game and exploring similar affordable, sustainable options, they face a run for their money. You can now find an Ikea glass, bookshelf or shower curtain in practically every British home. It may not be long before you’ll find a BoKlok development in every British town.
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