Ikea accused of building blots on the landscape
FOR shoppers who flock to the blue and yellow stores, the slick modern
designs inside are the attraction. But David Lammy, the culture minister, is to
accuse chains such as Ikea, the Swedish home furnishings giant, of “dumping”
faceless and ugly buildings on Britain’s towns.
His comments, to be made at the Royal Institute of British Architects this
week, will contrast how chains are “spending a fortune” marketing cheap
furnishings while “appearing to give no thought” to what the shops look like
from outside.
The minister will compare stores such as Ikea, Tesco and B&Q to “enormous
versions of the Tetra Paks they sell inside”.
“Good design and high-quality built environments are fundamental to a decent
quality of life,” he will say. “Too many supermarkets and DIY stores look like
huge faceless boxes. These companies need to recognise they have a huge impact
on the look and feel of communities.”
“Britain’s Architecture-Police Stakeout IKEA”
By sabel Oakeshot
The London Times
Pure Contemporary LINK
[via Apartment Therapy]
