They just want to play
How a unique playground was created in winter
The carpenters from Starkholz specialise in building playgrounds. But if you think that their work is child's play, think again. Nevertheless, for company boss Thomas Renner and his team, it's a dream job.
It's not quite swimming weather today. It's the start of February, a fresh layer of snow has fallen overnight, and the ground is bitterly cold beneath your feet. For a brief moment, we ask ourselves what we are actually doing here by the lido at Sindelfingen pool complex. But this is not something that crosses Thomas Renner's mind. The owner of carpentry business Schreinerei Starkholz explains: "As playground builders, we are almost always outside. And, of course, we work even when no one wants to play. Because as soon as it warms up, our playground will be finished."
Cold comfort: The guys on the Starkholz team automatically warm up while working. There is an unusually high number of men with beards on the team (perhaps because of the weather). One exception is Lisa, who of course does not have a beard, but does sport a hat (which she apparently practically lives in). She has designed the playground in Sindelfingen. The aim is to make the children feel like they are pirates: They can clamber over the half-buried hull, up to the crow's nest, then across to the friendly octopus, down the slide and back into the cabin. Everything in this playground has been individually planned and made – even the extension that the Starkholz team is working on this Monday morning. "With us, customers never get anything off the rack – we always give them a playground that no one else has," says Thomas Renner. Carpenter Lisa, who learnt her trade from him, adds: "That's what makes the work so rewarding."
"WITH US, CUSTOMERS NEVER GET ANYTHING OFF THE RACK – WE ALWAYS GIVE THEM A PLAYGROUND THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS."
Thomas Renner, owner of Starkholz
Strenuous work with hard woods and robust tools
This work is certainly not easy: All the structural elements are made from robinia wood, which is one of the hardest and heaviest woods going. "Without powerful and robust tools, robinia would be virtually impossible to work with," says Renner. The TPC 18/4 cordless drill with its four gears is perfect for drilling really chunky holes for the connections. Martin cuts the legs on the treasure chest to size with the CARVEX PSC 420 cordless pendulum jigsaw. And when Lisa needs some real power behind her saw, the SYS-PowerStation more than delivers.
Thomas Renner has been a Festool fan for as long as he can remember. But his business in Eberdingen is still relatively young. He founded Starkholz in 2016 with his friend, master carpenter Timo Ziegler. "As a Swabian living in Berlin, Timo already had some experience in building playgrounds out of heartwood that he could bring to the team," recalls Renner. "And we both had a very clear idea of what we wanted: To work with joy, with the best equipment, to the highest standards."
Appreciation for the work and the team
The invisible bond that connects the two young entrepreneurs – in work and in friendship – was brutally broken far too soon: In 2018, Timo Ziegler was diagnosed with cancer. He sadly passed away in October 2019. Since then, Thomas Renner has been the sole "boss", but whenever his employees jokingly call him that he simply smiles sheepishly. You really do see a sense of community in the Starkholz family – whether you are a boss, master or qualified carpenter or apprentice, everyone pitches in. Three young men are currently completing an apprenticeship with the company, and they are rather extraordinary: Lukas has trained in biochemistry, Martin is a mechanical engineer and Max is an architect. Why are they the perfect fit for the Starkholz team? "Because the three of them are simply up for the challenge," says a delighted Thomas Renner. "They are a real asset to our little family."
Success is when as many people as possible benefit
Is his collaborative approach the key to his success? Thomas Renner briefly considers the question: "Many people confuse success with personal profit. For me, the most important thing is that as many people as possible benefit from our work." It's not by chance that he has been involved in the non-profit organisation "Viva Con Agua" for many years. You could listen to Renner for hours as he shares his ideas and musings; he thinks far outside the box. But work on the playground by the lido is calling. His team works completely autonomously – individually and collectively – united by the wonderful thought that it will soon start to warm up and there will be lots of kids joyfully running around the playground.
.webp)
The finished product by Starkholz at night
.webp)
The finished product in the daylight
1 / 1
SCHREINEREI STARKHOLZ
Starkholz was established in 2016 in Eberdingen near Stuttgart. The business specialised in playground construction right from the start. Company founder Thomas Renner now has some 15 employees. As well as ambitious wooden worlds of play and outdoor facilities, Starkholz also builds high-quality solid wood furniture.
