Swedish furniture giant IKEA is set to open its newest UK city centre store tomorrow, located on London’s iconic Oxford Street. Housed within a thoughtfully restored Grade II-listed building from the 1920s, the project was led by UK architecture firm BDP and carefully tailored to meet the unique lifestyle needs of urban Londoners.
Built Around Compact Living
Unlike IKEA’s traditional warehouse-style locations, the Oxford Street store is specifically designed for residents living in “super small spaces.” Spread across three levels—including the ground floor and two basement levels—the store balances the signature IKEA experience with innovations suited to the dense urban fabric of London.
The upper basement, divided into themed room sets, features curated layouts crafted by Londoners themselves. IKEA market manager Matt Gould highlighted that these “culture clusters” showcase authentic living scenarios drawn from local lifestyles.
“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 Gould. “They don’t have these big, grand kitchens. People are living in super small spaces. We wanted to be true to the spaces people have in London.”
Local Voices, Local Appeal
On the ground floor, shoppers can explore curated product displays selected by Londoners, ensuring the offerings directly align with urban needs. The store also includes a deli and dining space in the upper basement, while the lower basement retains the familiar IKEA market hall experience.
The insights for this store’s layout stemmed from IKEA’s first UK city-centre store, which opened in Hammersmith in 2022. According to Gould, lessons from that venture revealed customers prefer clearly defined, room-specific layouts over expansive open plans.
Reviving the High Street
Beyond offering innovative solutions for small homes, IKEA’s presence on Oxford Street signals a broader ambition: revitalising British high streets. “We targeted Oxford Street because we want to be part of the high street,” said Gould. “We continue to see a movement of people buying online and not wanting to leave the house. So it was important to have something a bit different to bring them in.”
Respecting the Past, Building for the Future
The architectural renovation led by BDP also transformed the building’s upper floors into modern office spaces, accessed via a private side entrance. These offices come complete with rooftop terraces offering sweeping city views. Inside the store, BDP exposed original steel columns previously concealed behind boards, a deliberate choice to honour the building’s structure and history.
“One of the biggest mantras was to work with the building and make good, not change something for just change sake,” said BDP principal architect Garry Wilding. “The lighter you touch a building, the longer it will last.”
This sensitive refurbishment aligns with BDP’s broader vision of preparing the historic building for another century of use, merging resilience with modern functionality.