johan kauppi design’s outdoor gym references the highest mountain of sweden

conceived by johan kauppi design, the kebne outdoor gym evokes sweden’s highest mountain known as the kebnekaise. the overall design not only borrows the summit’s shape but also its story. indeed, kebnekaise gathers a wide diversity of people with different backgrounds and conditions — but ultimately sharing the same goal of enjoying a good challenge.

kebne illustrated in a summer beach of southern sweden
all images and illustrations © johan kauppi & nina kauppi

johan kauppi design‘s kebne outdoor gym is a family of five units created for limitless training exercises, using only one’s own body as counterweight. the many crossbars, placed at different heights, allow almost everyone — regardless of age, height or level of fitness — to use it. even more, the various body positions and angles — together with different types of grips — determine the severity and type of exercise. the system also provides pictographic symbols as guidance on how to perform the most common muscle training steps when using different equipments. 

‘we wanted to create an intuitive, informal and social outdoor gym, which also had its own identity, shape and story. we like to consider kebne both as units to furnish landscapes, as well as exercise- and activity equipment. the intention is to offer architects and city planners greater opportunities to furnish site locations with content that has both functional and social added values. airy figures that both embellish and interact with urban public spaces and landscapes“, explain designers johan and nina kauppi.

KEBNE by NOLA 
video © nina kauppi
courtesy of  kauppi & kauppi 

thanks to the triangular shapes of the design, the units create strong and stable self-supporting furniture that allow bolting on suitable foundations – or more conventional land casting which is common in green areas. when installing, various materials can be chosen as damping — like wood chips, rubber granules or sand — to supplement the properties of the furniture or actual requirements. the 38 mm steel bars are electro-galvanized and powder coated, available in three different colors; bright yellow, rusty red and anthracite gray. 

the furniture on a city boardwalk in malmoe

kebne furniture are produced by swedish company nola industrier, one of scandinavia’s leading manufacturers of contemporary outdoor products.  it is also the company’s first items to be available under the category of fitness furniture. the wood plateaus are made out of treated accoya with characteristics suitable for harsh outdoor environments — a quality suitable for city squares, schoolyards and parks, along beach walks or in connection to recreation areas.

kebnekaise mountain – sweden’s highest summit is the influence behind the kebne outdoor gym

the designer nina kauppi working out and testing a full scale prototype

kebne outdoor gym forms an abstract mountain scenery

the outdoor gym is an activity furniture made out of a family of five units

the many crossbars offer both accessibility and endless of possibilities

the wood plateaus are made out of accoya, suitable for harsh outdoor environments

the system provides a sign with pictographic symbols as guidance to common exercises

the five different units of kebne arranged in a row

design drawings with exercise scheme and colors

project info:

designers: johan kauppi & nina kauppi ( johan kauppi design)
producer: nola industrier

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom