Our unique approach to playground design combines visual arts and design to create physically challenging play equipment that goes beyond mere functionality to inspire imaginative play. We’re committed to artistic quality and inclusive play and firmly believe that these two elements can co-exist.

The artistic quality of a playground is a catalyst for children’s creativity and curiosity, stimulating the senses and developing a broad range of skills - both cognitive and physical.

Our artistic playgrounds become landmarks in their surroundings, causing both children and adults to talk about “meeting by the giant jellyfish.”

Why play on a climbing frame if you can play on a space rocket, a submarine, or a giant spider?
 

Playgrounds are social hubs in the community - gathering places. There are just as many adults as children at a playground and our creative playgrounds engage teen siblings, parents, and passers-by.

No invitation is required - playgrounds are open, accessible spaces for all - a public space for fun and where new friendships are made. We seek to create playgrounds that unite and gather people across generations and cultures - even if they’re not there to play but to simply enjoy the artistic sculptures.

A playground is a place for children to get active and moving. When they’re moving their bodies, assessing risk and learning to trust their judgment, they’re developing new skills and building resilience.

Designing playgrounds for movement of various kinds and levels of difficulty is integral to the design process at MONSTRUM. We design our playgrounds with many routes and flows of play in mind, taking into account the varying abilities and temperaments of the children who will play there.

With no single pre-defined way to play or navigate the playground, children of all ages and abilities are encouraged to dive in and explore for themselves - on their own terms.

We are deeply aware of the climate emergency and the urgent need for tangible action to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment. To address this, we have formed a committee—including our leadership—dedicated to mapping our carbon footprint and setting actionable targets, both small and large, to drive sustainability efforts.

At MONSTRUM, we build for both current and future generations. Building long-lasting wooden playgrounds, crafted from certified timber, is at the heart of our sustainability policy. Wood, our material of choice, is a renewable natural resource with numerous benefits—for both the environment and human well-being.

We prioritize environmentally friendly production methods throughout our supply chain and strive to create playgrounds that will endure for future generations while actively minimizing our impact on the planet.

At MONSTRUM, we seek to create thrilling playgrounds for all ages and abilities.

Our approach to designing a playground incorporates accessibility in a forward-thinking manner, facilitating inclusive gathering places for all, first and foremost.

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Good communication is an important factor in achieving the best design and end result. From the first inquiry, every project will be managed by one of our architects, ensuring that all ambitions for the project are met and accommodating the best process possible.

The following is taken into consideration at the outset of the project:

• What are the main ambitions?
• What story should be told at the playground?
• Is there a timeframe for the project?
• How do we ensure play value?
• Who is the playground for?
• What is the target age group?
• Are there any specific requests for play equipment, sizes, colors, etc.?
• How big is the area?
• What is the budget?

BRAINSTORMING
Brainstorming is the first step in developing a concept and theme for the playground. In this part of the process it is important to see possibilities instead of obstacles to ensure the best and most creative solution. The brainstorm will be based on the information, thoughts and ideas acquired from the customer. These ideas will be converted to sketches and finally, one concept is selected for further sketching.
 

CONCEPTUAL & VISUAL SKETCHING
The next step is to expand the selected concept and be more specific in the design. The visual appearance will be further developed and play features and routes will be added. In this phase, the design will be sketched in 3D. We deliver a presentation of the playground that will then be adapted in collaboration with the customer. 
 

DETAILING
Details will be adjusted and added. The safety of the design is examined and elements like colours, proportions and play value will be discussed and, if necessary, corrected in collaboration with the customer.

After approval of the design, the elements are made producible by our technical designers. This includes planning of the foundations.

At MONSTRUM, the whole process – from design to construction and final painting – is executed under one roof at our office and workshop in Copenhagen, Denmark. This simplifies communication, limits mistakes, and makes it easy to correct, modify or add details to the design during construction.

Production time varies depending on the scope of the project and production capacity with an estimated 4 months from the completion of technical drawings to shipping.

Before the playground leaves the workshop, it will be certified according to the appropriate safety standards EN 1176/77 or ASTM depending on the target market.

All playground elements are designed and built to fit the relevant means of transportation - either by truck, open flatbed, or shipping containers. Very large elements will be shipped in parts and reassembled on-site.

To ensure a smooth shipping process, we work with Blue Water Shipping – a global provider of all logistics services in modern supply chain management. Blue Water is an organization of professionals, skilled in providing complete and tailor-made solutions for any shipping requirement anywhere in the world.

We also offer supervision of the installation. Our team are hands-on in the process and will collaborate with local contractors. The preparations prior to and during installation will be planned and further details will be decided on in collaboration with the customer.

Our playgrounds are covered by a warranty of up to 15 years against defects in materials and workmanship.

Wood is a natural material that reacts to the changing seasons and weather. Small cracks, surface scratches, and color changes may therefore occur. This is a natural part of the material’s character and does not affect the structural integrity of the construction. These conditions are not covered by the warranty.

The warranty does not cover in cases where the product has not been maintained according to our maintenance manual. Defects or damage that result from improper use, storage, misuse or abuse, wear, tear or vandalism are excluded from coverage.

All our playground equipment meets the requirements specified in EN 1176/77 or ASTM (the European and American safety standards for playgrounds).

MONSTRUM have thorough knowledge of the regulations and the usual interpretations. To keep focus on safety from the initial ideas to the completed installed playground, several of our designers and builders are qualified Playground Inspectors.

To ensure a high level of safety, we collaborate with Nordic Playground Institute, who are Europe’s leading institute for playground safety and risk assessment. All playgrounds are certified according to EN1176 or ASTM before they leave MONSTRUM.

After installation of the playground, MONSTRUM will provide a maintenance manual based on the safety standards including security checkpoints, materials used and colour codes. The playgrounds are made of simple materials and are easy to maintain by local craftsmen. All wood used has a natural strength and resistance to weather effects and requires a minimum of maintenance. If the playground is re-painted after 10 years, it will look like new again.