Kebne Outdoor Gym Wins Gold at the German Design Awards
2017–10–20
Kebne is a unique outdoor gym concept comprised of individual fitness stations designed for urban centres as well as for activity trails outside the city. Designed by Kauppi & Kauppi, Kebne received a prestigious Gold award in the 2018 edition of the German Design Awards in the Excellent Product Design category. Kebne was only launched by Nola a few months ago, and since then it has received media attention and design industry nominations.
“It’s an incredible honour to have one of our products receive this international award,” says Agneta Stake, CEO of Nola. “This shows that we are investing in products with an innovative design mindset that appeal to lots of people, not least the reputable group that nominates the winner. When a company in a field like public design is singled out for ‘Excellent Product Design’ it’s a special honour, as this part of the industry is sometimes overlooked.”
For design duo Johan and Nina Kauppi, the inspiration for the outdoor gym came from a Swedish mountain landmark and the experience of New York City’s street and gym culture. With Kebne, the duo wanted to create a meaningful social environment that makes a difference in people's lives through good design.
The result was a product group that straddles the divide between gym equipment and outdoor landmarks. The starting point was to create inclusive designs adapted for different ages, body types and levels of fitness. The furniture can be used for a wide range of movements and exercises, such as stretching, strength training, acrobatics and yoga. The equipment can also create a place for play. The system has no moving parts, making it virtually maintenance-free. The units can be installed directly on suitable surfaces in parks, in cities or by the sea.
The German Design Award is Germany's most prestigious design award. Its goal is to honour unique ideas and design excellence in the international field of design. The 2018 jury consists of design experts from a range of disciplines administrated by the German Design Council, Germany's leading design authority. The prize will be formally awarded in Frankfurt at the awards ceremony on February 9, 2018.