Reactivating Public Spaces With Outdoor Fitness Equipment
In modern-day urban environments, green spaces such as gardens, home yards and public parks are becoming increasingly important to provide balance to our day-to-day lives. In the case of playgrounds, which are key public spaces for children, the question arises: if we make playgrounds for children to spend time and play in, why shouldn’t we extend this idea to serve adults as well? Adults need to be present in playgrounds, accompanying their children, so why not extend these areas to become interesting and inclusive for adults too?
It is this idea that impulses Gritbird, a Finnish manufacturer of outdoor fitness equipment. By providing a place for adults to move and exercise in public spaces, they are able to harness simple tools and movements to provide effective results. This goes beyond fitness; it’s a commitment to making outdoor workouts widely accessible to the public while harmonizing with diverse landscapes, inspiring architects and landscape designers to redefine public spaces.
The equipment combines multi-dimensional functionality with Nordic design, setting a new standard for the integration of health and aesthetics. The current product ranges, Grit- and Nolla series, are designed to be used in highly effective bodyweight training while fitting into a diverse range of landscapes and scenic environments. The Grit-series is designed with universal, natural shapes in mind making it easily approachable for all age groups. The Nolla-series, on the other hand, follows a minimalistic design combining simplicity and high functionality. Suitable for public parks, along riverbanks, or atop city rooftops, they facilitate workouts while becoming integral parts of their surroundings. Accessibility to workout equipment, after all, is increasingly important to manage the globally surging healthcare costs.
The Gritbird products are manufactured in Finland and made out of sustainable and durable materials like stainless steel and recycled plastic, which help promote the circular economy. This commitment to ecological design aligns with the company’s values, ensuring that each piece of equipment not only serves its fitness purpose but also contributes to a sustainable and durable urban landscape.
Its innovation in product design provides users the ability to perform various bodyweight exercises in all of the main planes of motion, such as vertical and horizontal push/pull. Highly adaptable, users can adjust the difficulty level simply by changing body positions. This versatility not only caters to a broad spectrum of fitness levels but also helps make outdoor workouts universally accessible.
The concept of bodyweight training is an easy, safe, and effective method that is suitable for all age groups, and can become one of the cornerstones of a healthier life. These types of efficient exercises align with the global trend towards simplicity in fitness, where the most straightforward tools yield the most impactful results as, according to studies, bodyweight exercises are just as good as free weights for muscle growth (Ogawa et al. 2023, Kikuchi & Nakazoto 2017).
The Gritbird equipment provides architects and landscape designers with tools to transform public spaces both visually and functionally. In addition, the outdoor fitness equipment not only promotes a healthier lifestyle but also contributes to the visual harmony of urban environments, as they can be seamlessly integrated into rural landscapes, by rivers or seas, in city centers, and even on rooftops, offering flexibility in design and placement.
Beyond aesthetics and functionality, cost-effectiveness is part of the brand’s commitments, as the versatility of the equipment means fewer devices are needed compared to traditional fitness equipment. This makes it an economically viable solution for architects and landscape designers looking to create impactful and efficient public spaces. When it comes to creating lively, active public spaces, a movement towards a healthier, more visually appealing urban landscape is essential.
To learn more about Gritbird and its products, visit the product catalog.