PLAYGROUNDS WITH 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, our team of over 75 dedicated craftsmen, architects, and designers are all based 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.

Ole Barslund Nielsen

OUR SOCIAL IMPACT

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

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

MONSTRUM allocates 10% of the company's annual profit each year for social impact work.

icon showing that MONSTRUM donates 10% of annual income

NATIONAL ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

CHARITY PROJECT 2021 & 2022

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

While the COVID-19 crisis has affected many people across the world, it is catastrophic in the world's poorest nations. Child morbidity is on the rise, more and more people live in poverty, and the situation is now extreme in areas that were already in great need. It will take several years for the world's poorest to get back to the same level as before the pandemic.

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

danmarks indsamling - MONSTRUM

THE HOMELESS BUILD THEIR OWN HOMES

CHARITY PROJECT 2018-2019

Homelessness in Denmark is on the rise, and we aimed to address this issue not only through financial aid, but also by creating a collaborative social space. We began by organizing a design workshop where four homeless individuals worked closely with MONSTRUM to optimize and create plans for their future homes. The design was taken to our workshop and built by the homeless in collaboration with our professional carpenters. Throughout this period, the homeless were invited to join the MONSTRUM crew and contribute their skills and abilities.

As the city undergoes rapid change with increasing property prices, the social divide continues to grow. However, this change also presents new opportunities. Upcoming development projects have left behind passive city spaces that can be utilized for temporary housing. Our four houses are designed to be compact, measuring approximately 3 x 6 meters, and are easily transportable, making them a suitable solution to create mobile communities that can be placed in diverse cityscapes.

The project has been recognized with numerous awards, including the International Design Award with Gold and Bronze in the Architecture categories for "Mobile Homes" and "Conceptual design", as well as the Aarhus Architecture Award 2018.

MONSTRUM projekt udenfor charity velgørenhed Homeless IDA award

OUTREACH TO LUSAKA

CHARITY PROJECT 2017

In Lusaka, Zambia, we collaborated with 'Plan Danmark' and 'African Direction' to support a development project in the slums.

"In Lusaka, there is a need for safe havens and play spaces for children growing up in the slums. They require a space that is solely for them. The youth at Africa Directions Center participate in workshops where they make democratic decisions on whether MONSTRUM's donations should be used for a building with play space, a soccer field, a workshop for girls only, or something completely different." - Marie Hecht, Plan Danmark

The result of this collaboration was the construction of a netball court and the renovation and repainting of the surrounding walls. The center now serves over 500 children and young people aged between 4 and 25 years old, offering activities such as basketball, dance lessons, sewing classes, sexual education, contraception education, and business training. The center is the only safe haven for these children and young people, as the slums of Lusaka are not safe places for them. The goal is to keep them away from drugs, off the streets, and other unsafe places. The playing field is established in Mtendere, adjacent to Africa Directions' existing youth center.

 

READ MORE

Lusaka charity project

MONSTRUM CULTURE

At MONSTRUM, we value experience, confidence, creativity, and responsibility, and strive to tackle challenges and seize opportunities effectively. Our people are our most valuable resource, and we prioritize their happiness, motivation, and inspiration so we as a team, can create fantastic playgrounds. To this end, we foster a strong community culture that celebrates our collective achievements and builds a multi-disciplinary team. Despite a busy workday, we take time to recognize and appreciate each other's accomplishments and socialize with colleagues and their families

As a company, we have 5 annual social highlights:

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 PARTY IN JUNE
The whole company gathers on the beach.
 

 

MONSTRUM team photo
Designer choosing colour samples at MONSTRUM office

AWARDS

 

GERMAN DESIGN AWARD 2024
Special Mention - Lilidorei Play Village, The Alnwick Garden, England

 

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