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Danish Company Creates The Best Playgrounds In The World That Even Grown Ups Can’t Resist
LEGO isn't the only Danish engineers inviting kids to celebrate their imagination. One Danish company is building creative, one-of-a-kind kid's playgrounds, and these clever designs are every child's dream.
MONSTRUM, founded by former theater set designers Ole Barslund Nielsen and Christian Jensen, has been making elaborate and whimsical playground equipment since 2003. From a giant electric eel swirling around a lighthouse to a princess tower and a rocket ship mashup - these cool designs are inviting children to play in Denmark, Sweden, Egypt, and other countries. Scroll down to vote for your favorite jungle gyms, and let us know in the comments which one of these thematic playgrounds you'd want in your back yard. You know, for your kids and their fun games, not for you, right?
More info: monstrum.dk (h/t: insider)
This post may include affiliate links.
Liseberg
Welcome to our playground in Liseberg, Tivoli in Gothenburg! Swing in gigantic nets and climb as high as you dare (adults might be tempted too), and enjoy close encounters with solar reflections and giant birds.
The Crooked Houses
Back in the days in 1800-something, when Brumleby was located in the countryside there was a dairy and a slaughterhouse at Brumleby. The idea of the playground is to create a piece of this old Brumleby to remind us of its fantastic history.
The Blue Whale
Can you imaging anything better on a Sunday morning than to be swallowed by a blue whale?
You can climb up on to the back of the whale by crawling through its mouth and into its stomach. You can also crawl through the hole in the side and into the basket, that sits on top of the whale. From here you can slide down.
Odense Zoo
The story takes place on the African savannah. The Lion Chunga lies comfortably, hiding from the small goats and dreaming of his next meal. Behind the grass you will see a glimpse of the old hut in the trees with two giant slides.
Kristineberg Slottspark
The creepy crawling is all over the large playground in Kristinebergs Slottspark. The two giant owls, both 5.5 meters tall, are the king and the queen of the playground. They are ruling over a large slide area, tempting curious boys and girls to enter both long and short slides.
Childrens Railway Station
Childrens Railway Station is an indoor playground on the Danish Railway Museum in Odense. The playground is inspired by Odense station in the 1960´s.
The Eel And The Lighthouse
Right next to the National Museum of Bermuda you will find a giant green murray eel wrapped around the a lighthouse.
The Sperm Whale
The Sperm Whale has been the focal point of many exciting stories through times. From story about Jonas and the Whale to the stories on Moby Dick and Pinocchio.
Futuroscope
Have you ever dreamed to be the size of the insects? The playground, Futuroscope frames that adventure with tall grass, large flowers and a giant ant.
The Dragon
A large dragon has settled in Mulighedernes Park in Aalborg, so children come play if you dare!
The Globe
On DOKK1 (Arhus new main library and citizen service center) you will find the playground ‘Kloden’ (english: the globe). The project is made in collaboration with Schmidt / Hammer / Lassen Architects and Kristine Jensen Architects. The project was donated by the Herman Salling Foundation.
The Bermuda Triangle
A pilot has been on a long expedition across the Bermuda Triangle to investigate the many stories about the ships and planes mysteriously disappearing in the area
Cosmos
The idea of the playground is a journey through the Russian space program. Meet the dogs Lika, Belka or Strelke and jump on to the satellite Sputnik, the launch vehicle R-7 Semyorka and moon vehicle Lunokhod 1. Climb around and explore the history and feel the rush when you crawl into the big crawling tubes or slide down the big slides. Enjoy!
The Towers
If you as a small child want to feel big go to ‘Fælledparken’ in Copenhagen and visit The Tower Playground with its countless opportunities for physical activity and technological interaction.
The Fortress City
The Fortress City is designed as a small adventure land where children can hide and play role games.
Gedden
The Pike is a very voracious fish that eats everything. In the year 1230 a German Emperor captured a pike that was over five meters long and weighed more than 1/4 ton.
Terville
In Terville a large frog is looking out of the water. He tries to catch the flies with his long tongue. So beware you do not get eaten, he may well think you are a fly.
The Rocket And The Princess Tower
The background of the founding fathers of MONSTRUM is in building set designs for theatres in Copenhagen. Just like a set design a playground must have an inspiring front attracting children and a functional backside with climbing, sliding and relaxing options.
The Fisheries And Maritime Museum
Perhaps two ships have stranded on a small island with a lighthouse and a small lighthouse keeper’s house? Perhaps they have been lured in there by the people living on the island?
The Alphabet Playground
Lots of giant letters are scattered all over the area, inspiring the children to play and have fun. The crazy, oversized letters have different sizes, colors and play opportunities.
The Submarine And The Lighthouse
The inside of the submarine is separated by a bulkhead with round manholes. The navigation deck can be accessed via the ladder in the submarine tower. Older children can climb from the navigation deck onto the hull of the submarine.
The Snake In The MeldgÅrd Forest
A large grass snake twists and turns on the forest floor. Inside the snake there is a long mazy tunnel in which you can hide from the other children when playing tag.
Tivoli Hotel Og Congress Center
The playground is located at the third floor level, and you can see all the way to Tivoli from the top of the Japanese tower.
Diesel Engine
You can enter the the 260cm tall Diesel engine through the flywheel, and climb on up to three tube slides.
Dannebroge
A cannon is on the way out of the hull, still attached to the deck. It looks just too difficult to get on board, but soon you will see new opportunities to find small routes around the explosion.
The Lighthouse And The Fishermans House
The fishing boat is equipped with a rudder and compass, so that the children have acces to all the tools they need to navigate the boat safely into port.
Octopus In Gorky Park
The proud ship S/S Oceanliner is on a long journey. Suddenly, a giant octopus rises from the deep blue sea and attacks the ship.
Stjernedrys
Stjerneskuddet is an integrated childcare institution for children aged one to six years in Copenhagen. The playground is divided into areas, providing space for riding a bike, playing ball, climbing and sand digging.
Theater Playground
“Din Teaterpark” in Pildammsparken is designed by artist and scenographer Annika Carlsson together with MONSTRUM, and carried out in collaboration with Malmo Stad in 2013-2014.
Tutti Frutti
You are dreaming about a big and sweet banana or pear, while you are sliding down from an apple, climbing on an orange or sailing away on a melon shell.
Santa Maria And The Easter Islands
Marco Polo’s old ship has run aground the Easter Islands, and she now lies half buried in sand far from civilisation. Two of the cannons are still intact, but the mast lies broken across the railing
Trinidad – The Lost Coaster
The coaster has wrecked on a sandbank and is broken in two. The many wreckage pieces, such as boxes and logs are spread out in the water and on the sandbank.
The Parrot
A big parrot with multiple levels inside is the new central play equipment on the playground.
The Monster In Bispeparken
The children in Bispeparken wanted a monster on the playground. MONSTRUM put up a trap and caught one.
The Large Cod
The large cod is swimming in the eelgrass with tiny fish around him. It works as a combined climbing frame and hide out.
Petzi’s World
The Danish cartoon series on Petzi tell about a life of adventure. Petzi and his friends sail their ship Mary to discover new land, solve problems for their new friends, build new things, trade, and play together.
Lund
This small city is composed of a series of small playhouses, connected by a network of paths that meander through the small town.
Seaweed
It is a hot summer day at the beach. We are in very shallow waters where the bladder seaweed sways slightly in the waves.
Societetsparken
A large haunted house, three fluttering bats and a dark forest inhabited by ghosts set the mood of the spooky ghost playground in Varberg.
Crocodiles
The crocodiles are two sculptural elements on the beach. Here you can play – or just sit and enjoy the view.
The Roly Poly
Gyllins Drivhus
Playhouses in Gyllins Trädgård float on piles in different heights and provide a lovely view of the area.
The Spider And The Wooden Huts
The spider is designed as a giant mechanical spider being caught in its own web. The head is the control cabin with two joystick controllers to handle all the legs.
The Ladybird
This playground is designed like a small section of the forest floor with a ladybird, some branches, and some small rocks.
The Submarine
The submarine has just surfaced after yet another adventure. The wave laps onto the foredeck in large soft shape, a great place to run across
Pheasant In The Reeds
Between the long reeds stands a big beautiful pheasant. You can crawl into the body of the pheasant that serves as a playhouse in three floors.
Around the pheasant is the 2-3 m tall reeds, where you can climb and balance on ropes between the tribes. Both children and adults can use the pheasant, which invites to play and stay.
The Third Planet From The Sun
The large globe fell down, and as it hit the ground all the continents slid off. That is why they are now scattered around the globe all over the playground.
Small Globe
The Globe is a nice little space that you can reach by a net, a fireman’s pole or a slide
The Apple In The Grass
An apple has just fallen from the tree and is now in the grass. You can become tiny and crawl into it and explore.
The Cargo Ship
A huge cargo ship is sunk. Now it is on the ocean floor next to the lighthouse and among cargo crates and fish.
The Galion
A great old Galion has gone down in a storm close to shore. Waves are lapping over the sides of the ship.
The Striped Town
The playground consists of a small striped town on the fringe of the forest with a large spider in the middle.
I wish we lived in a world were the biggest industries where not weapons and oil, but playgrounds and amusement parks.
I wish we lived in a world were the biggest industries where not weapons and oil, but playgrounds and amusement parks.