CHUNGA PLAYGROUND
WHERE:
Odense, Denmark - 2016
COLLABORATION:
Steen Koerner Studio
CUSTOMER:
Odense ZOO, Denmark
‘Chunga’ is the big lion in Odense Zoo. He is well known to the regulars and if you are a new visitor, you will definitly get to know him when you see the playground edition of him.
The dangerous giant lion lies in the grass. He watches everything that moves. Maybe he’s just resting, maybe he is waiting for this next meal to walk by. If you’re silent enough, he won’t notice you climbing up his sides and walk across his back, like a small ant.
The playground won the Reddot Award in 2017, The German Design Award in 2018 and was the bronze winner of the IDA Internation Design Award in 2017.

The lions head can be climbed by grabbing the holes in the mane. They also serve as peeping holes for the kids to look in and out.

The holes also have an aesthetic function as they let the light stream inside and adds a beautiful play of light together with the gab between the wooden planks.
"We wanted to maintain the position as Europe's best zoo by continuing to create adventurous experiences for the whole family."
- JENS ODGAARD OLSSON,
DIRECTOR, ODENSE ZOO

COME CLOSE TO CHUNGA THE LION

The lion has different levels to climb on. From the tail, which also can be used as a bench, the kids can climb up its back and further to its mane.

The back of the lion has two bars for sliding down or to climb across.

JUMP ON THE DANGEROUS SAFARI TOURS

Across from the lion is an area designed for the smaller kids with cars to play in, trunks for climbing and a sandbox.
