The Living Collection
Overview:
IKEA
Welcome to the era of organic interiors. The Living Collection is the first-ever line of bioengineered furniture designed to purify air, generate oxygen, and even produce edible plants. Using AI-powered photosynthesis LEDs to mimic natural sunlight, these pieces replace wood and plastic with thriving micro-ecosystems that grow, replenish, and sustain themselves with minimal effort. Imagine sofas with breathable moss padding, tables sprouting edible greens, bookshelves cultivating mushrooms, and lamps that purify air. This is sustainable urban living, reimagined.
Case Study Video:
Problem: Urban living is suffocating green spaces.
Insight: People are meant to live in connection with nature, not separate from it.
Big Idea: Transform urban interiors by integrating nature into lifeless, concrete living spaces through bioengineered, self-sustaining furniture.
Art Direction: Kari Marvel
Copywriter: Hank Ihle
The Grass Tabletop:
A revolutionary dining experience, this table replaces traditional surfaces with a lush, self-sustaining grass top. Designed with bioengineered Neoplants, the grass stays green with minimal watering, thanks to an embedded AI-powered irrigation system that monitors moisture levels. The table purifies air, enhances oxygen levels, and provides a sensory connection to nature in urban spaces. Users can even grow edible microgreens for garnish, integrating sustainability into their meals.
The Mushroom Lamp:
A lamp that grows gourmet mushrooms directly in its shade. The lampshade is made from mycelium, a natural fungi network that serves as a growth base. Users can insert pre-seeded mushroom spores into the lamp’s biodegradable panels, and with the help of built-in humidity controls and AI-regulated lighting, mushrooms grow within weeks. Once harvested, new spores can be introduced to continue the cycle. This lamp not only provides illumination but also fresh, homegrown ingredients for cooking.
The Flower Frame:
Integrated into the lamp’s base are Neoplants, genetically enhanced to absorb airborne pollutants and convert carbon dioxide into oxygen.
A living painting that evolves over time, this frame cultivates real flowers and greenery. Using a built-in AI-regulated water and nutrient system, flowers grow in cycles, adapting to the environment with minimal upkeep. Users can swap out seed cartridges to introduce different flower varieties, creating an ever-changing botanical display. This piece purifies air while offering a dynamic, sustainable art form that bridges the gap between home decor and living ecosystems.
AI Gardening Assistant:
To unify The Living Furniture Collection, IKEA introduces Flora, an intuitive virtual assistant designed to manage and nurture every living furniture piece in the home. Acting as a digital botanist, Flora continuously monitors moisture levels, light exposure, and environmental conditions, making automatic adjustments to keep each piece thriving. Users can interact with Flora through voice commands, a mobile app, or smart home devices, asking questions like, “Hey Flora, how’s my Grass Table doing?” or “Remind me to harvest my mushrooms in three days.” Whether it’s the Grass Tabletop, the Mushroom Lamp, or the Flower Frame, Flora keeps every ecosystem thriving with minimal effort from the user. Over time, Flora can learn user habits and living conditions, offering tailored recommendations to enhance plant health and optimize home sustainability. Fully integrated with IKEA’s Living Furniture Collection, it seamlessly connects with irrigation systems, lighting systems, and temperature controls to create a holistic green living experience for the user.
AI-Powered Irrigation System for the Grass Tabletop:
The Grass Tabletop features an intelligent, self-regulating irrigation system designed to maintain the perfect balance of hydration with minimal effort from the user. Beneath the lush bioengineered Neoplants, ultra-thin moisture sensors continuously monitor soil hydration levels, detecting even the slightest fluctuations. When the soil begins to dry, the system activates an embedded micro-drip irrigation network, releasing precise amounts of water through ultra-fine capillary tubes woven beneath the surface. To prevent overwatering and reduce waste, excess water is collected via an integrated drainage system, naturally filtered through a bio-sand purification process, and recirculated back into the system. The AI adapts irrigation cycles based on factors such as indoor temperature, humidity, and seasonal shifts, ensuring the table stays green and vibrant year-round. Users can receive real-time updates via the IKEA Gardener AI assistant, which provides notifications on hydration levels, plant health, and even reminders to harvest edible microgreens.
The Living Collection Website:
An extension of IKEA’s main website, this hub showcases the Living Collection, allowing users to explore and purchase sustainable, living furniture. It features interactive elements, plant care resources, and AI-assisted gardening insights, utilizing platforms like Farmonaut to ensure easy maintenance. The website introduces the technology behind each piece and educates users on how their furniture can sustain itself over time.
Its shell is formed from mycelium, the dense, fibrous root network of fungi. Once harvested, the pods can be replaced. With no soil and no contamination, the closed-loop cycle couldn’t be easier to repeat
Inside, pre-seeded spore pods are inserted to grow edible mushrooms. In just around three weeks, gourmet mushrooms begin to fruit.
Bringing Nature to the Concrete Jungle
The Living Collection isn't just furniture, it's a movement toward a greener, healthier, and more sustainable way of living. Each piece is designed to function as a self-replenishing micro-ecosystem, blurring the line between home and nature. IKEA is reimagining interiors, not just as places to live, but as thriving, breathing environments where urban dwellers can reconnect with the world around them. Welcome to the future of sustainable living.
