Published 08 May 2019 • Inter IKEA newsroom

Exploring alternative, local and more sustainable ways of growing food is essential in our current climate. As a result, IKEA is collaborating with world-renowned designer Tom Dixon to explore how democratic design principles can be applied to urban farming. The first step of this project has been working on a garden with the Design Research Studio, the design and innovations studio at the heart of Tom Dixon for the exhibition at Chelsea Flower Show, named “Gardening will save the world”.

The garden will demonstrate how people can contribute to the movement of growing at home, and make a difference to reducing food waste, as well as broadcasting the beauty and functional importance of horticulture, through both traditional knowledge and the latest in growing innovation.

“‘As part of the Chelsea Flower Show, we have designed and realised an experimental model for growing plants in the urban environment. Aiming to give back to cities and create productive landscapes within urban zones, the garden includes a raised modular landscape with edible and medicinal plants and an enclosed based garden fuelled by hydroponic systems and controllable lighting” says Tom Dixon.

Exploring the contrast of the hyper-natural and hyper-tech to encourage an independent approach to growing, the garden will be split into two levels and feature over 4,000 plants. The garden’s base will be a horticultural laboratory where hydroponic technology is implemented, whilst the raised garden will be a botanic oasis with a natural aesthetic for visitors to immerse themselves in.

The exhibition will also offer an exclusive look during a media preview at some of the first prototypes of product ideas that Tom Dixon has designed on urban growing, which will be available globally at IKEA stores in 2021. This coming range is the second part of the project and collaboration between IKEA and Tom Dixon with the ambition to find affordable and sustainable solutions to grow plants and vegetables in our homes and urban environments.

“For IKEA, this project is about bringing attention to the future of the environment and the importance of growing food locally. We want to create smart solutions to encourage people and make it easier to grow plants themselves anywhere they can, whether that’s in their community garden, rooftop or in containers on balconies and window sills” says James Futcher, Creative Leader at IKEA Range and Supply.

After IKEA and Tom Dixon have displayed their ideas at Chelsea Flower Show, the garden will be donated to charity Participatory City and moved to Barking and Dagenham in East London. Parts of the garden will be re-created at The Warehouse, the largest public makerspace in London to help inspire and enable more people to enjoy it and learn about the importance of growing food locally. Participatory City and IKEA share the ambition of making sustainable and healthy living available for the many, every day, led by local people.

“Our five-year project to boost the collective efforts to create a circular economy from the ground up, and with residents at the heart, will really benefit from having the garden re-installed here and for people who live and work in the borough to enjoy,” says Tessy Britton from Participatory City.

The ‘Gardening will Save the World’ exhibition will be at the Chelsea Flower Show on 21st – 25th May, stand no. GPE 203.

Following Chelsea Flower Show, the garden will be donated to Participatory City, an innovative practical participation platform, that includes supporting greening and urban farming projects in Barking and Dagenham East London. Participatory City will run a series of projects at the installation from 25th June for four weeks. The garden will then remain at this location for at least three years, ahead of the regeneration project beginning in this area.