Port of Helsingborg Magazine Winter/Spring 2005 - Helsingborgs ...

Global meeting place beside Port OfficeOnly the most parochial Helsingborger could seriously maintainthat Helsingborg is the hub of the globe. But – maybethe assertion is not totally wrong. IKEA has now moved intoHelsingborg’s old sugar works, and the works’ location waspartly instrumental inIKEA’s decision to place its global,employee meeting place in the port of Helsingborg.The building from the south-west.The building from the north-west.The building that once was Sweden’smost modern sugar factory is againright at the cutting edge. But the façadedoesn’t give any clear hints as to whatgoes on inside. Anyone who has becomeused to seeing huge IKEA signsalong motorways will probably passthis building without giving a secondthought to who owns it.“This is an in-house meeting placefor our co-workers.We want shoppersto go toour store and not come hereby mistake,” says Charlotte Lindgren,press officer for the IKEA group.“Everything in the building is veryIKEA.Ofcourse, the furnitureis fromour own range, but regular visitors toIKEA willalso recognise the elementsof form.Take the unexpected solutions.Which other company,for example,has aliving room with magazines,TV and musicfor its employees?Andwhere else would the founder’s conceptsbe printed on the inside of thelavatory doors?”Ameeting placeThe sugar works is an in-houseventure. With 84, 000 co-workers allaround the globe, thereis aconsiderableneed toconduct meetings,courses,conferences, product presentationsand the like. According toCharlotteLindgren, there was previously nonatural location for such events.Thisbuilding has therefore been renovatedand furnished for the purpose offacilitating-and generating -personalmeetings.“The ideahas worked. By just beingin the building you meet any numberof people,” she says. “In practice, thefocus on meetings involves severaldifferentthings.As soonas you comeintothe 60 metre high, 15 metre wide, 22metrehigh entrancehall, thereare sofaswaiting.The kitchen is oneof the hubsof the building, whereeveryonemeetsfor morning coffee. In the afternoons,breaks are taken in smaller kitchenson each fl oor – but preferably not atdesks. N obody has an of fi ce of theirown,not even grouppresident AndersD ahlvig when he is here instead ofatthe head of fi ce in the N etherlands.H ehas a desk in the communicationsdepartment.”