Inredia

About

Tibro is a small town in the south of Sweden that can draw on a strong tradition of furniture and interior design. In the 19th century, the farming community started to make furniture from wood sourced in the local forest to gain some additional income. The industry developed from small scale handicrafts to large scale factories. Yet, specialist design and craftsmanship have always remained essential values. [1]

Tibro is still known as the Scandinavian epicentre of the furniture industry. Nowadays, traditional craftsmen can still be found here, and the town is home to many businesses that manufacture, design, sell or distribute furniture, or provide interior design services. In 2005, together with local businesses and associations, the municipality developed a shared vision for Tibro (named Tibro, Vision 2017). Building on this cultural heritage was a logical step. In 2009, the decision was formalized to open Inredia, an international centre of excellence for interior design. [1;2]

In 2012, the initiative opened its doors in a renovated textile factory of 1.500m2, originating from the 1940s. It has become a creative environment where professionals and students from the design industry can work, meet and study. It acts as a knowledge hub, where designers can gain inspiration, learn from each other, launch prototypes, and get feedback from their peers. There are free-of-charge co-working spaces spread across three floors of the building. Furthermore, product launches, educational activities for designers, and cultural and artistic events are organised. There is also space for art installations and temporary exhibitions related to design, materials, innovation and the environment. Individual meeting rooms and lecture halls, or the complete building, can be rented for events. A restaurant that serves daily lunch and does catering is housed in the building. The space also serves as the official visitor centre for the town of Tibro. [1;2]

Governance

The initiative arose through mutual interests from the local municipality and local businesses in the furniture and design sector. Inredia was established as a public-private partnership and, since 2018, has been fully managed by the municipality. [1;2;3]

Business Model

Funding has been received through the European Regional Development Fund. Moreover, the municipality of Tibro, the region of Västra Götaland (part of the west of Sweden), the local government federation of Skaraborg and participating businesses have contributed to the initiative. [3] The total amount invested is unknown.