Ikea has acquired the Museum of Furniture Design, originally founded by Lars Bülow and Kersti Sandin Bülow, who were honoured with the 'Honorary Nova of the Year' award at TMF Nova 2024.
The museum, which houses over 1,200 unique pieces from more than 400 designers and architects worldwide, has been a significant platform for promoting Swedish furniture design and fostering interaction between students and professionals.
Photo: Dreamstime.
The acquisition ensures that the museum's collections remain accessible to the public and continue to engage with educational institutions. The Bülows emphasised the importance of maintaining low thresholds for accessibility, allowing students to interact closely with the exhibits.
The museum had paused its physical exhibitions in December 2022 due to high operating costs and had shifted to a digital platform. After a year of discussions with Ikea, a deal was reached to relocate the collection from Stockholm to Älmhult, where Ikea is headquartered. This new location, close to Copenhagen, Malmö, and Lund, is seen as an ideal spot for the museum's continued operation.
Ikea Älmhult, the company's destination development arm, will manage the museum. The goal is to reopen the museum in Älmhult in 2025, ensuring the continuation of its mission to celebrate and promote furniture design.
Source: www.tmf.se