IKEA US unveils Small Home project with trauma-informed design at IKEA Live Oak for healing, well-being; project uses sustainable building materials, aims to foster a more empathetic and resilient approach to design and housing

“A home is more than a physical space, it’s where we are able to find comfort, peace and a sense of belonging,” said Sam Eisenman, Sustainability Business Partner at IKEA U.S. “At IKEA, caring for people and the planet is at the heart of everything we do, and we see an opportunity to build on the work of those who are already leading in trauma-informed design and use the approach to build resilient communities and create supportive spaces for the many.” 

As experts in small space living, innovative solutions and democratic design, IKEA is uniquely positioned to elevate the concept of trauma-informed design to its communities and customers. IKEA and its design partner, WestEast Design Group’s Social Impact Studio, will be using the space in IKEA Live Oak to conduct research on trauma-informed design and its impact on the end user. IKEA will also provide training to teach co-workers about the design principles and how to apply them while maintaining a person-centered, empathy-led approach throughout the design process. 

“At IKEA Live Oak, we are thrilled to host the first Small Home model to help make an impact on our community, co-workers and customers by learning about and helping to scale trauma-informed design,” said Keena Garcia, IKEA Live Oak Market Manager. “There are an estimated 3,155 people experiencing homelessness the San Antonio area, so it’s crucial that we as IKEA do our part to create environments that support healing, reduce the risk of re-traumatization and promote overall well-being for all occupants.”

After the in-store phase of research is completed, IKEA and its partners will use the findings to construct a Small Home built with trauma-informed design principles that will be donated to a local permanent supportive housing community in San Antonio. IKEA will work with WestEast Design Group’s Social Impact Studio to measure outcomes from individual(s) living in the space and gather data which will aid in advocating for a trauma-informed approach to become the industry standard when developing affordable, supportive housing spaces that promote and maintain a path towards healing and stability. 

This is just the start of the IKEA journey in trauma-informed design and exploring how IKEA can be a facilitator of and advocate for the approach as a tool to address some of the root causes that contribute to the affordable housing crisis in the U.S. In the long term, IKEA envisions bringing together stakeholders and advocates across all markets to support existing efforts, as well as to enlighten and encourage others who aren’t familiar with trauma-informed design towards incorporating the approach.