Kebne Outdoor Gym

Design by Kauppi & Kauppi for Nola Industrier

An abstracted mountain silhouette that positions itself somewhere between public furniture, outdoor gym and landscape architecture

Kebne is a system of outdoor exercise furniture that offers unlimited customizable workouts in both strength and flexibility. From tough strength training to simply stretching with friends, Kebne enables the user to challenge themselves on whichever level they choose. The intuitive design and lack of complicated moving parts creates a user-friendly experience that allows every type of workout, from light exercise to even the most intense training. Kebne’s crossbar structure employs the user’s own body weight for resistance, so beginners and experts alike can create their perfect workout by simply adjusting grip and body position. Regardless of age, strength, or experience, Kebne doesn’t limit how or what to exercise.

The sleek design of Kebne offers architects and city planners an opportunity to furnish locations and outdoor destinations with a content that has both functional and social added values. The idea is that Kebne will function both as a workout tool and a social forum. A meeting place and a sculpture, as suitable for the city as for the beach. The airy and functional system adorns and interacts with both urban environments as well as open landscapes, creating a natural gathering place for everyone.

“The accessibility aspect has been key, we wanted the gym to have units well-functioning also for individuals in wheelchairs. We were very dedicated to create an including design from the beginning, instead of creating additional versions for special needs. It is highly interesting and challenging to create a collection of units with corresponding DNA but different features and areas of use. In the Kebne project it was important to us to be able to invite everyone and not to exclude someone that for example is using a wheelchair.” - Nina Kauppi

Just like the use of the Kebne gym, the installation process is designed to be as streamlined as possible. The stable and self-supporting construction allows the gym to be safely mounted directly onto suitable outdoor surfaces. In parks and recreation areas, the Kebne can be installed using simple land casting and mounting. The surface underneath the system can be prepared according to the user’s needs, on a lawn or wooden deck, with granulates, wood chips or sand to create a soft surface. The Kebne system can be used as soon as it is installed, with its illustrated diagram of common movements for guidance.

“In New York, we encountered an urban exercise culture with street gyms. When we later moved to Frankfurt, we used the German version with perfect machines in public spaces. With Kebne, we close the circle with a product idea that was born in New York and Frankfurt, has the character of Lapland and is produced in Sweden by Malmö based company Nola” - Johan Kauppi.