PLAYGROUNDS WITH FOCUS ON ARTISTIC AND ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY

At MONSTRUM, we design and produce unique playgrounds with a focus on artistic and architectural quality. Our thematic playgrounds spark the imagination and inspire movement while gathering both kids and adults.

MONSTRUM was founded in 2003 by Ole Barslund Nielsen. Ole's background in art and scenography design in the theater world sparked the idea for a new kind of playground company. The catalyst for the creation of the company was a local kindergarten playground project. When the kindergarten that Ole’s five-year-old son, Sixten Gustav, attended was looking to source a new playground, Ole joined a parent committee tasked with planning the project.

“I realized that I could design a playground like a theater set design that gave better play possibilities than the known playground concepts. It became a really nice playground that the children and the teachers (and the parents) became very happy with. This playground led me to form MONSTRUM.“

– Ole Barslund Nielsen.

At MONSTRUM, we are now over 75 craftsmen, architects, and designers at our workshop in Copenhagen, Denmark. We export playgrounds to countries all over the world and we are proud that the world has seen the quality of our work.

Founder of MONSTRUM Playground Ole Barslund Nielsen standing in workshop

 

AWARDS

 

GERMAN DESIGN AWARD 2022
Special Mention - Surfer's Paradise, Helsingborg, Sweden

 

IDA INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AWARD 2021
Winner - Bronze, Surfer's Paradise, Helsingborg, Sweden

 

GERMAN DESIGN AWARD 2021
Winner - Gold, The Historical Playground, Viborg, Denmark

 

GERMAN DESIGN AWARD 2021
Special Mention - The Colourful Peacock & The Hong Kong Skyline, Hong Kong

 

GAZELLE AWARD 2012-2018
7 years winner for fast-growing healthy business, Denmark

 

IDA INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AWARD 2018
Winner - Mobile Home for Homeless, Charity project, Denmark

 

GERMAN DESIGN AWARD 2018
Winner - Chunga Playground, Odense Zoo, Denmark

 

 

RED DOT DESIGN AWARD 2017
Winner - Chunga Playground, Odense Zoo, Denmark

 

IDA INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AWARD 2017
Winner Category - Chunga Playground, Odense Zoo, Denmark

 

BEAUTIFUL PLACES COPENHAGEN 2013
Awarded by the City of Copenhagen for The Tower Playground in Fælledparken.

 

DANISH DESIGN AWARD 2012
Winner

 

AOK, THE CITY’S BEST CHILDREN'S EXPERIENCE, COPENHAGEN 2012
Winner

 

SWEDISH ARCHITECT’S PLAN PRIZE 2010, MALMÖ CITY
Winner, Spider Playground

 

OUR SOCIAL IMPACT

At MONSTRUM, we create playgrounds for children all over the world - providing spaces for play and for imaginations to run wild. However, there are still many children that never have this opportunity because they have the misfortune of being born in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Our vision is to help children and contribute with the resources we have to places where it is needed the most. We do this by donating money to global social initiatives and also by actively supporting local initiatives.

MONSTRUM sets aside 10% of the company’s annual profit each year for social impact work.

10% OF ANNUAL PROFIT DONATED TO SOCIAL WORK

NATIONAL ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

CHARITY PROJECT 2021 & 2022

In Denmark, the annual national fundraising event, Danmarks Indsamling, is a televised appeal night and funds go towards various relevant causes. In 2021 & 2022, the funds raised went towards helping children affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Many people across the world have been and are affected by the COVID-19 crisis, but in the world's poorest nations, the situation is catastrophic. Child morbidity is on the rise, more and more live in poverty, and in areas already in great need, the situation is now extreme. It will take several years before the world's poorest can get back to the same level as before the pandemic.

The money donated contributes towards ensuring that vulnerable children have access to clean water, that they can go to school, and that they receive the necessary protection and medical care. MONSTRUM wanted to be part of this important work and thus donated a percentage of our annual profit to this good cause.

See more in the video below.

Danmarks indsamling at MONSTRUM workshop

THE HOMELESS BUILDING THEIR OWN HOMES

CHARITY PROJECT 2018-2019

Homelessness in Denmark is increasing and we wanted to take action and respond to this problem, not only by means of economic support but by creating a collaborative space built on social relationships.

Starting with a design workshop, four homeless people worked closely together with MONSTRUM, designing and optimizing their future homes. The design was taken to the factory, and built by the homeless in collaboration with our professional carpenters. During this period of time, the homeless were invited to be part of the MONSTRUM crew using their skills and abilities.

The city is changing rapidly. With escalating prices for popular lots, the social gap is increasing. But this change also provides new opportunities. Passive city spaces, due to upcoming development projects offer an opportunity for temporary housing. Our four houses are designed as small volumes for living and measure approx. 3 x 6 m. They are easy to move and easy to fit into the diverse cityscape, making temporary passive spaces bloom into mobile communities.

The project was awarded The International Design Award with Gold and Bronze in the Architecture categories: 'Mobile Homes' and 'Conceptual design'. The project was also awarded the Aarhus Architecture Award 2018.

MONSTRUM projekt udenfor charity velgørenhed Homeless IDA award

OUTREACH TO LUSAKA

CHARITY PROJECT 2017

In Lusaka, Zambia, we collaborate with ‘Plan Danmark' and ‘African Direction’. Here we support a development project in the slum:

“In Lusaka there is a need for havens and play for the children that grow up in the slums. They have a need for a space that is only for them. The youth in Africa Directions Center participates in workshops, where they make democratic decisions about, if the donations from MONSTRUM, should be used for a building with space to play, a soccer field, a workshop for only girls or something totally different”

- Marie Hecht, Plan Danmark

The result was a netball court and a renovation and repaint of the walls surrounding it. More than 500 children and young people between 4 and 25 years og age come to the center every day. Here they can play basketball, get dance lessons, learn to sew, get sexual education and knowledge about contraception. The young people also get training in how to start their own businesses. The center is the children and young people’s only safe haven, as the slums of Lusaka are certainly not a place for children. The goal is to keep them away from drugs, off the street and other unsafe places. The playing field has been established in Mtendere, in connection with Africa Directions’ existing youth center.

 

READ MORE

Lusaka charity project

TOGETHERNESS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

We are a company that highly values experience, confidence, creativity, and responsibility and we seek to embrace the challenges and opportunities we meet in the best possible way. This is the recipe for a good playground, but it is also a guide for how we would like to develop our company.

At MONSTRUM, our most important resource is our people and the expertise we have developed throughout the years. In order for us to fulfil our potential, it is important that all of our staff are happy and motivated every day and feel inspired to do their best - to create fantastic playgrounds and represent MONSTRUM in the best possible way. Therefore, we prioritize nurturing a strong community culture amongst our team that is both motivating and something we can be proud of.

In a hectic and busy workday, we create many fantastic projects and experience both big and small wins that we are not always able to celebrate in the moment. So, when we do take time out to celebrate together, it’s not only about meeting each other's families and socializing - it’s also about acknowledging each other’s accomplishments and celebrating the fact that we are a great, multi-disciplinary team!

As a company, we have 5 annual social highlights in our calendar:

SKIING TRIP IN JANUARY
The whole company goes skiing or snowboarding together.
CRAYFISH PARTY IN AUGUST
We celebrate the Swedish tradition of "Krebsegilde" with our spouses, partners, & collaborators.
CULTURE NIGHT IN APRIL
We challenge each other in games and culture.
CHRISTMAS PARTY IN DECEMBER
We celebrate Christmas at a restaurant in the city.
SUMMER SUMMIT IN JUNE
The whole company gathers on the beach.
 

 

MONSTRUM team photo