Town: Ribe (Denmark)
Location: Parc RiPlay
The town of Ribe (population 8,315) in southern Denmark commissioned Proludic to design and install a bespoke play area.
Founded in the early 8th century, Ribe is not only Denmark’s oldest town, but also one of its most historic. As a result of numerous events (fires, floods, epidemics, silted-up harbour), all of the monuments that made Ribe one of Denmark’s most important towns have disappeared over the years.
Telling the town’s story through play
Ribe’s objective was to pass on the town’s story to children and keep it alive using play as a medium.
The layout of the play area and most of the equipment are custom-designed. Historic landmarks have been reproduced to allow children to discover even monuments that have now disappeared.
The facility offers a wide range of activities for children of all ages. The fun trail runs from west to east.
The west zone is aimed at younger children. It includes many play area classics designed to appeal to very young children and help them explore a variety of sensations:
- Trampolines: the ultimate in fun, trampolines help children develop balance, stamina and coordination of movements in space.
- Swings: for sensations of lightness and weightlessness.
- Balancing trails: for budding acrobats, balancing artists and climbers.
- An inclusive All-Terrain vehicle: springer play and imagination. On board this vehicle, children share an adventure as a team.
- Roundabouts: ideal to train balance and encourage socialisation.
- Zip-lines: for thrilling and adventurous experiences with a dash of adrenalin.
- A Roll-Runner: crawling, walking or running, children choose the right pace to maintain their balance.
The central area features two giant custom-built structures inspired by the town’s history: Ribe Castle and the Flood Tower. This area provides an ideal environment to stimulate children’s imagination. It transports them to the heart of the town of Ribe and provides a unique experience.
Proludic has brought Ribe Castle back to life with a majestic structure recapturing its iconic appearance.
The structure is organised around 4 large towers rising up to a height of over 7 metres. These 4 main rooms are enhanced with a host of fun features designed to recreate the atmosphere of a lively medieval castle:
- Ropes and rubber canvases to climb the towers. Children need to demonstrate courage and skill to climb in small, unstable spaces.
- Steel wire tunnels allow children to access other towers. Understanding how to manage empty space is important to make progress in these cramped spaces.
When they reach the top of the towers, children can enjoy a sumptuous and breathtaking view of the entire play area!
The Flood Tower is a giant structure installed in the central area replicating Ribe’s historic flood commemoration column, a landmark in the city centre.
Proludic’s exclusive Grafic Games customisation technique has made it possible to reproduce in an identical format on the Flood Tower the designs featuring on the commemorative column. The levels and dates of historic floods are marked on the tower.
The Flood Tower is over 6 metres high and offers a variety of fun activities spread over 3 levels: climbing wall, net wall, climbing ladder, 2 tube slides and 1 spiral slide.
The east zone is a long play trail with no fewer than 7 multifunctional structures from our Kanopé range. Children can climb in all directions over the net walls and climbing walls, crawl through the wire tunnels, cross the moving balancing trails, slide down the poles, a slide or the Speed Gliss… A chance to become real acrobats!
The area ends with the third giant structure in the play area. This structure with a streamlined and contemporary design consists of 2 towers over 7 metres high linked by a long wire tunnel. Both towers can be accessed by climbing on rope elements. At the top of the west tower, a 6-metre-high spiral slide guarantees thrilling descents.
Balancing trails, quiet games requiring coordination and balance, add the finishing touch to the play area.
