“A vital concern is that people who already know Tivoli well accept the new addition as integral to the park.”
Photo essay by Jumana Brodersen
Related: Tivoli Gardens’ new Klump Island on fast track for Spring 2010 opening / Jumana Brodersen designs Klump Island / The Little Mermaid Comes to Tivoli Gardens amusement park this spring / Medialon Takes Part of The Illuminations of the Tivoli Amusement Park in Denmark / Transitioning from Corporate to Independent in the Themed Entertainment Business
In May 2010, Tivoli Gardens opened its new children’s play zone, Klump Island, based on classic Danish story character Rasmus Klump (Petzi). Jumana Brodersen president of The J Co LLC (St. Louis, USA) and former corporate director of creative development with Busch Entertainment Corp. was brought on in June 2009 to master-plan Klump Island for fast-track development. Brodersen worked closely with Tivoli's director of design Mikkel Sonne, vice president Finn Sture Madsen and CEO Lars Liebst, as well as creative developer Per Sanderhage of Egmont, which owns the Rasmus Klump character. Here are candid photos taken by Brodersen at the Klump Island opening, with her captions.
Klump Island looks lively, inviting and fun, framed by Tivoli’s landscaping and the historic brick building. It is distinguished by its own look and character, but is designed with respect and sensitivity for the existing areas. A vital concern is that people who already know Tivoli well accept the new addition as integral to the park.
Several school groups attended the opening in the morning.
A marching band performed for this special occasion.
Signature elements of the world of Rasmus Klump are taken from the pages of the storybooks and translated into a three-dimensional guest experience that feels authentic: the boat Mary, the whale, the polka dots and stripes.
The ramp is the main entry point to the new play area and was designed to provide an all-important sense of arrival. Anticipation builds in the visitor’s mind during the approach, and the approach is an experience in itself, with things to do along the way that fit the theme. The simple wood fence shows attention to detail: it’s how Rasmus would have built it. The ramp also furnishes egalitarian accessibility. (For those who want a quicker journey, there is a staircase.) In the photo with the boys playing musical instruments, you can see how the new play zone is set into the characteristic Tivoli landscape – differentiated yet coordinated. Transitions of this kind are vital: they provide the visitor with decompression areas, a chance to set themselves up for the next experience, and to start appreciating where they’re going before they get there.
The boat (Mary) is a recurring icon and the whale a regular character in the Rasmus stories. Everyone is having fun. Klump Island was created to serve a family demographic, especially young children, but it’s just as welcoming and enjoyable to adults and tweens. It was important to design the area for all ages, to attract the younger set but also embrace Tivoli’s existing visitor base. Note the mature landscape: we didn’t remove any trees.
Inside the pancake house. Pancakes are Rasmus’s comfort food of choice.