Ikea Marked Sweden's Sunniest Spot With a Pair of Big Stone Chairs

Can it become a tourist destination?

Thanks to Ikea, visitors to Gotland, an island off Sweden’s east coast, can sit a spell and soak up the scenery in a pair of huge granite armchairs.

But they better wear shades. And maybe bring a nice soft cushion.

Using two decades of meteorological data, the retailer determined the nation’s sunniest square meter and built a monument on the spot resembling a pair of Ikea’s SKARPÖ chairs.

Developed with agency Åkestam Holst NoA, the project seeks to create a summer travel destination. At the very least, the work should help bolster Ikea’s image as a prime provider of outdoor furniture.

“As the seasons change, so do the ways we live. When the sunlight and warmth return after winter, people across Sweden move outdoors,” says brand communications manager Linda Vikström. “We want to help as many people as possible make the most of life outside. Identifying and marking Sweden’s sunniest square meter is part of that ambition.”