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)
#1 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.
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147points
#2 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.
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141points
#3 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.
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.
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137points
#4 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.
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125points
#5 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.
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112points
#6 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.
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105points
#7 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.
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103points
#8 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.
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99points
#9 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.
Monstrum
Report98points
#10 The Dragon
A large dragon has settled in Mulighedernes Park in Aalborg, so children come play if you dare!
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97points
#11 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.
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53points
#12 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
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52points
#13 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!
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50points
#14 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.
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48points
#15 The Fortress City
The Fortress City is designed as a small adventure land where children can hide and play role games.
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46points
#16 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.
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46points
#17 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.
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43points
#18 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.
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43points
#19 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?
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36points
#20 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.
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36points