THE FUTURE
WITH its clinical lighting, bleached furniture and hushed atmosphere, it may look a little like a dentist’s surgery – but the home of the future has plenty of surprises in store.
On one wall are Floalt light panels, motion-activated by sensors in the ceiling, which have modes including soft sunset, white and dark. At present the panels (€69 for a 30cm square) are operated by a dimmer switch, but it is hoped in future we will control them with our phones.
‘The home of the future is all about control: homeowners want to be in charge with technology at their beck and call,’ says Clotilde. ‘They’re also conscious of the environment, saving energy and sustainability.’
There will be wireless charging furniture – tables and chairs that charge our devices – and ‘smart’ mirrors, which can also tell you the time, weather and what’s on your to-do list. The room features 3D-printed chairs (€170 each), made by a hi-tech printer. There is a screen called a ‘shadow tracker’, which uses movement and temperature to create constantly-changing digital ‘art’.
The most eye-catching feature is the greenery-covered walls. These are hydroponics, specially cultivated plants that can be grown indoors if you don’t have a garden. Clotilde says: ‘Outdoor space will be even harder to come by in the future. Not only do indoor plants clean the air but they have a very soothing effect.’
Homes are set to get smaller, so designers are focusing on storage, including using previously empty space above eye level, as well as space-saving models such as fold-up beds, collapsible chairs and multi-purpose stackable stools. Some innovations, it must be admitted, are more exciting than others.
÷ The Ikea House Party runs until Saturday at 19 Greek Street, London.