At Urbania we believe high-quality sustainable timber is the best material for the construction of playground equipment. Not only is it resilient and weather resistant, but kids have told us they love playing and climbing on wooden structures as they feel warm and natural.

Our play partner Richter Spielgeräte is a big believer in the importance of organic and natural materials, especially timber. In fact it is their primary construction material. Which may explain why their playgrounds are much loved the world over.

Two of the most popular wood types used by Richter are Larch and Ash, both of which are sourced from growth areas close to their headquarters in Germany. However they also use a third timber, Robinia, a high-quality hardwood which is being used more and more in playground construction.

Unbeatable toughness.

Sometimes known as Black Locust wood, Robinia is fast-growing and naturally high in self-preserving oils.

It has a very high bending strength and is highly resistant to rot, fungi and insects. In its untreated form it has a life expectancy of more than 25 years, which is essential for timber anchored into the ground.

Robinia is so rot resistant, it is often used for fence posts in the USA due to its outdoor longevity. It’s also been used a lot for railway sleepers over the years, although that’s less common these days due to the prevalence of concrete sleepers.

Considered one of the world’s toughest timbers, Robinia has a strength rating of F14, making it suitable for any application where load bearing and structural integrity are paramount, such as outdoor equipment and of course playground structures