Where BoKlok come from
The idea for better housing at lower costs was born in 1996. Apartment construction had more-or-less come to a halt – the demand for newly built apartments was very high, but no-one dared take the initiative to build specifically for the large number of people looking for apartments at reasonable prices.
It all actually started at a housing fair in Sweden. Two of the driving spirits behind the concept met and started to discuss why all new built apartments were only for rich people. Ordinary people should have the same right to live in new built dwellings adapted to the needs of modern family.
A dialogue between IKEA and Skanska started and revealed that both parties were interested in making a move on the empty market. Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, had long been looking for a partner in the building industry to help build new homes for the many people. Skanska and its chairman Melker Schörling, was keen to join forces with IKEA to further its aim of becoming the first construction company in Sweden to create a broad product on the basis of an entirely new approach.
In 1997 the first four residential areas were completed in Helsingborg, Stockholm, Örebro and Sundsvall. They were all a success; people were queuing at the IKEA stores to be able to buy an apartment. That was when the system with allocating the order to choose apartment by drawing of lots was invented. This is our way of making sure that everyone has the same chance to buy one of the attractive apartments.
Up until now almost 4 000 apartments at over 100 locations in 5 different countries have been built. Everywhere the customer surveys shows the same: The people living in BoKlok dwellings think their apartments and the area they are living in are great, and that their monthly living cost is low and affordable to them.