PLAYING WITH TIMBER
16 Aug 2017
Timber makes for an excellent material for the construction of playground equipment; in large part because of its natural aesthetic appeal coupled with its durability and flexibility.
adventure+ has been utilising timber in playground construction for over 30 years. It has proved to be an excellent material for this purpose, due especially to its aesthetic appeal, and also with the way it can connect us with nature and its construction flexibility.
Due to the unique visual appeal of timber, adventure+ is seeing the demand for timber based designs continually increase. The use of timber is particularly popular in high profile architectural playgrounds and in natural, tree-surrounded settings. 
adventure+ most commonly utilises White Cypress for the symmetry+ range, however, the company has used Iron Bark and Spotted Gum for certain projects. While White Cypress is a softwood timber species, it shares the same qualities as many hardwoods and proves to be the perfect balance between workability and durability. Natural White Cypress weathers to a rustic silver-grey colour, or alternatively, surface coatings and stains are available to enhance and maintain the beauty of fresh Cypress. The uncoated and two-tone colour coating look is becoming increasingly popular with landscape architects, due its contemporary appearance. 
Timber provides greater scope for customisation and flexibility of design. This flexibility allows for designs with large or irregular platform decks, which are excellent for improved traffic flow, accommodation of a large number of users and providing for the needs of users with limited mobility.
Timber and steel are sometimes combined in playground equipment construction to take advantage of the particular features and benefits of each material, and to create a unique architectural look. Steel uprights introduce an element of colour and durability, while the timber platforms, staircases and componentry provide the softer, greener, aesthetic appeal of the playground. Combining the two products marries the best of both worlds! 
The adventure+ spectrum+ hybrid system is an excellent example of this style of playground equipment. With its customisable layout possibilities, it is frequently used for playgrounds with architectural distinction, especially where all-abilities access is required.
Contact the knowledgeable team at adventure+ to discuss your next timber playground project.
