Urban spaces for children

They look dangerous, but they are fascinating, unique, fun and above all safe. With a background in art and design, Monstrum, a Copenhagen-based company, designs and builds themed playgrounds for children to Danish standards. Standards that allow them to be a little 'dangerous'. It is believed that through play, children should also experience the idea of danger, within age limits. Every child should have the opportunity to experience age-acceptable risks as part of stimulation, challenge and control in a foreign environment. Obviously that's climbing, inclined planes, balancing and the like. Basically, they are urban spaces where children socialize and do physical activities at the same time. The creativity and complexity of playgrounds also exposes them to degrees of risk, obviously minor. This exposure can be beneficial because it satisfies their curiosity, tests the limits of their courage and confronts them with risk and its consequences in a controlled space. It is an exciting approach to children's play with clear developmental outcomes at social, intellectual and physical levels.

All products are made from wood in their workshop in Copenhagen. They use Robinia, an extremely strong type of wood whose characteristics make it resistant to impregnation for 25-40 years in contact with the soil.

It's also a plea for going up the slide backwards, getting your clothes dirty, running without the fear of sweat and the freedom to test your limits in the spaces they're designed for.