In Älmhult, a former IKEA warehouse is being transformed into the new home of Museum of Furniture Studies. Danish architecture studio Cobe is working with the existing industrial building, keeping much of its original character while opening it up for a new purpose.

“We’re creating a very special place, where furniture design history, the contemporary scene and future ideas can meet under the same roof. A place where people can meet and experience design from different perspectives” says Eva Lilja Löwenhielm, Manager of Museum of Furniture Studies.

One of the most visible changes will be three large windows cut into what was previously an enclosed building. They open the museum towards Älmhult and give people outside a glimpse of what is happening within.

The choice of timber also connects the building to its surroundings. Wood has long been central to furniture making in Småland. Here, it brings warmth to the industrial structure while leaving the original construction visible. The new timber elements are designed so they can be disassembled and reused.

On the ground floor, spaces can change depending on what is happening in the museum, from exhibitions and workshops to lectures and events. The open collection will be housed on the mezzanine, displayed on galvanised steel shelving and accessible for close study.

At the centre of the building, a double-height space cuts through both floors. Known as the canyon, it will form the heart of the museum and provide a large space for temporary exhibitions.

“We approached the project as a precise transformation, working with what was already there rather than replacing it. The existing warehouse has strong spatial and material qualities: robust, flexible, and ready for renewed use. Our task was to extend that logic, not overwrite it. A few deliberate moves turn an anonymous warehouse into an open and inviting design destination” says Dan Stubbergaard, architect, professor and founder of Cobe.

Museum of Furniture Studies opens in Älmhult in February 2027.