MONSTRUM’s Imaginary Playgrounds

Playgrounds are serious business as they provide fertile territory for the development of social skills, and offer countless health benefits. Playing in playgrounds thus results in the amelioration of risk from weight gain and disease, and demonstrably improves mental well-being and self-esteem among kids. Therefore, the communication and cooperation that goes on in a playground is critical for a child’s development.

But. Since the heyday of the Adventure Playgrounds on the streets of post-War London, which were constructed entirely out of rubble from the Blitz, allowing kids to play with building-blocks, and traverse the assault courses, playgrounds have arguably lost their ‘va-va-voom’ – due in large part to the growing insurance culture; the fear of lawsuit from parents’ of injured children has caused public commissioners of playgrounds to be especially risk averse, and risk averse policy has led to the creation of boring, unchallenging, and sterile playgrounds.

MONSTRUM, however, has been furnishing Denmark’s playscapes with thrilling playgrounds that challenge children both physically and mentally. In their “playscapes”, boats tilt at crazy angles, wrecked planes lie broken in half, playhouses provide escape from gigantic spiders, and hidden portals lead to the belly of a whale. The whimsical playgrounds are imbued with a sense of thrill that most modern playgrounds lack. Not only are they physically challenging, but also the fantastical shapes reflect the youthful imaginations of children where anything is possible.

By investing in children and their well-being, MONSTRUM invests in our collective future.