Ingka Centres, part of the Ingka Group, the owner of Ikea Retail, has officially opened Livat Hammersmith, Ingka’s first urban meeting place.
The launch comes two years after Ingka Centres confirmed an investment of £170 mln (€200 mln) to acquire and redevelop the existing Kings Mall, located on the main high street of Hammersmith, into a ‘meeting place’ complete with atrium and new offerings.
Hammersmith’s new meeting place will be the first in Europe to carry the Livat brand. Livat means ‘a lively gathering’ in Swedish - reflecting Ingka Centres’ belief in offering communities fresh ways in which they can connect with like minds, discover new ways to shop, to eat, to work and have fun.
Ingka Centres’ managing director, Cindy Andersen, commented: ‘We know that our visitors and the wider community want more spaces in which to meet, shop, socialize and work which are fun, human and eco-friendly. Livat Hammersmith will offer just that.vOur urban meeting places have been designed to reflect the needs of those living in city centres, with more regular visits and fewer journeys by car. This new vibrant offer provides places where everyone feels welcome and will be encouraged to come more often to explore amazing experiences while supporting the local community and the planet.’
The new meeting place is anchored by a new, small Ikea store. The innovative store is the first time Ikea home-furnishing accessories will be available to buy on the UK high street, with the full range available for delivery.
Livat Hammersmith also includes space for local startups, pop ups and food outlets run by local entrepreneurs, and is home to a number of other retail offerings, including Lidl, Sainsbury’s, H&M and Primark.
The launch of Livat Hammersmith is a significant milestone in Ingka Centres’ €5 bn global expansion, following the opening of four new meeting places in China, as well as the recent unveiling of plans for India. A second urban meeting place is already in development at 945 Market Street in downtown San Francisco.
