IKEA Bang Yai receives IKEA’s first ever LEED Platinum accreditation for sustainability
IKEA Bang Yai, to the north-west of Bangkok, has been certified LEED Platinum for sustainability – the first IKEA store in the world to receive this level of accreditation.
The development, designed by Chapman Taylor, is the biggest IKEA store in South-East Asia and the only one in the world that is fully integrated into a shopping centre. It received a tremendously warm welcome upon opening, with 159,000 visitors in just the first four days.
The building is also the first IKEA store worldwide designed to achieve Green Mark Platinum certification, and uses renewable energy from a rooftop fully covered in photovoltaic solar panels that also act as feature canopies for shade and shelter of car park spaces.
The store is located in the Central Westgate shopping complex. The ambitious design integrates completely new store concepts, including restaurants with healthy, organic and vegetarian options, cafés, a library and break-out areas, all within the sales areas and showrooms. Full-height glazing, large skylights and naturally lit atriums throughout the several floors of the building bring the space to life with daylight and natural plants.
The IKEA canteen offers a “branch-exclusive” menu of sustainably sourced food for customers who enjoy the Swedish firm’s culinary side, catering to the strong Thai love of good food.
The 50,000m² store is fully integrated into the shopping centre, allowing customers to enter and leave the store from three different floor levels. It hosts 29 check-out points and is served by 1,900 parking spaces.
Chapman Taylor provided architectural design and full delivery services from inception to completion, working closely with the other consultants involved and the IKEA construction and establishment teams, for this landmark project for IKEA in South-East Asia.
