Ingka Group, which owns ready-to-assemble retailer Ikea, has opened a new mixed-use retail and living space in China.

Ingka Centres, part of the Group, has built a new 130,000 sq m community lifestyle development designed to create a ‘one-stop destination’ for socialising, leisure, entertainment, and food.

The work-live units, designed in collaboration with Ikea, represent the first time Ingka Centres has brought what it calls a Small Office Home Office (SOHO) concept to one of its meeting places.

The development, called Livat Changsta, is located in Changsta, the capital city of Hunan Province in south central China.

The new site has more than 500 flexibile work-live units, more than 380 shops, a number of restaurants, cafes, entertainment, sport, and event areas, as well as green spaces.

Ingka Centres has invested more than €565 million to develop Livat Changsha.

The company estimates the development will attract 20 million visitors every year.

“Livat Changsha is an exciting new chapter for Ingka Centres, as we are adding a new lifestyle concept to one of our meeting places for the first time,” said Cindy Andersen, Ingka Centres managing director. “We are looking forward to welcoming the many people of Changsha to Light by Livat, a vibrant new concept we have created together with our colleagues at Ikea.”

Andersen added: “Livat Changsha is also designed to be an important hub for Changsha’s local community. In a market study we conducted before construction, the Changsha residents named "relaxed" and "enjoyable" as the two most important feelings they wanted their new meeting place to convey.”

Ingka Centres first entered the Chinese market in 2009 and currently has five Livat branded meeting places in Wuxi, Beijing, Wuhan, Fuzhou and now Changsha.

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