Us & Our Planet: This Is How We Live

Furniture giant Ikea’s vision to “create a better everyday life” for as many people as possible takes center stage in this unusual and engrossing ode to the brand and its six touchstones—sustainable solutions to “time, space, food, rest, play, and togetherness.” Each section explores classic Ikea products: there’s the Natura chair, “made with longevity in mind”; the PS Sofa Bed, which was designed for “small space living”; the chain’s restaurant’s meatballs (and their vegetarian alternative); the PS Gullholmen rocking chair, made as a solution to restlessness; the Duktig play-kitchen set, a riposte to “cheap and childish” designs; and Mistlen, a soon-to-be-launched tap adapter that reduces water usage and aims to “reduce the collective impact of our bad water habits.” Along the way, brief q&as introduce readers to community leaders and Ikea shoppers: there’s a designer who focuses her work on sustainable bamboo, a 14-year-old climate activist, and a professional athlete and 2020 Olympian who discusses the relationship between art, architecture, and skateboarding. Beautiful pictures appear throughout, and the book’s greatest success is its ability to track how Ikea’s development team has changed simple things—such as the light bulb—in big ways. Design enthusiasts will want to check it out. (Mar.)