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Minimalist Outdoor Gym Inspired by a Mountain in Sweden

Inspired by Kebnekaise, Sweden’s tallest mountain, Johan Kauppi and Nina Kauppi designed a minimalist outdoor gym for Nola that lands somewhere between sculpture, public furniture, and landscape architecture. Kebne consists of five individual, peak-like structures built for various types of exercise, strength training, and stretching, for the entire community to enjoy.

The three-dimensional frames become stations for the different types of exercises with diagrams attached showing how each one is to be used. Since each of these components are fixed, there’s no continued maintenance as with regular gym equipment that contains weights, cables, and counterweights.

Kebne can be used as a destination or meeting spot for people of all fitness abilities to use and enjoy, from the beach, park, school, or recreational area. Just like the mountain that inspired the collection, it’s meant to be inclusive.

Kebnekaise mountain in Swedish Lapland

From Johan and Nina Kauppi:

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 for furnish landscapes, as well as exercise and activity equipment. The intention is to give architects and city planners greater opportunities to furnish locations with both functional and social added values. Airy figures that can both embellish and interact with urban public spaces and landscapes.

The equipment is made from 38mm steel bars that are electro-galvanized and powder coated in three colors: bright yellow, rusty red, and anthracite gray.

Photos & illustrations by Johan Kauppi & Nina Kauppi.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.