From pavilion to pool: Pretty Plastic marks a new milestone in circular construction.

Taking important steps towards a circular economy, Pretty Plastic has renovated Tongelreep National Swimming Centre using innovative and sustainable tiles for cladding, made from 100% recycled PVC.

The Netherlands-based start-up, Pretty Plastic, has set about transforming plastic building site debris, such as discarded window frames and drainpipes, into a commercially-ready building material. Offering twelve different colours and three distinct designs of cladding tiles, each holds its own unique character and qualities.

This Autumn, Pretty Plastic is celebrating the largest application of its material to date, showcased on the façade of the renovated Tongelreep National Swimming Centre in Eindhoven. Designed by Slangen+Koenis Architects and with no fewer than 30,800 tiles spread over 1,400 m2, this project marks a new milestone in sustainable architecture.

The Pretty Plastic cladding tiles are an outcome of the circular architectural vision that emerged during Dutch Design Week (DDW) in 2017. The pioneering People’s Pavilion, designed by Overtreders W and bureau SLA, introduced a fully borrowed and recycled building that attracted international attention. This project inspired the founding of Pretty Plastic and the development of a design-led, fully recycled cladding material.

Peter van Assche, co-founder of Pretty Plastic and bureau SLA reflects on Pretty Plastic’s progress to date: “At DDW 2016, we presented just two square metres of shingles, handcrafted in our self-built recycling factory. Thanks to the courage and vision of DDW, we were invited to create an entire pavilion at DDW 2017 based on those two square metres. This project gave us the springboard to fulfil our mission of cleaning up plastic waste.

“This pavilion challenged architects worldwide to think more radically about circular construction and spurred the development of Pretty Plastic as a commercial product. The application on the façade of the Tongelreep is the largest project to date, proving new possibilities both aesthetically and in terms of innovation.”

Martijn Paulen, director of the Dutch Design Foundation, comments on Pretty Plastic’s journey from concept to market-ready product: “The People’s Pavilion at DDW 2017 introduced a completely new perspective on circular construction: a 100% borrowed building.

“I am so proud that Overtreders W and bureau SLA demonstrated the courage, perseverance, and entrepreneurship to turn the beautiful prototype cladding from that project into a captivating product for the market.”

Pretty Plastic was selected for the renovation of the Tongelreep, an iconic building in Eindhoven, due to its sustainability, aesthetic versatility, and local character. Slangen+Koenis Architects, responsible for the design, believed in the potential of Pretty Plastic from the outset. The start-up collaborated with the Municipality of Eindhoven and contractor, Mertens Bouwbedrijf to ensure the project maintained its circular character.

The façade concept for Tongelreep seamlessly aligns with the existing swimming stadium, featuring a robust anthracite base that contrasts with the more open sections. For the enclosed parts of the swimming areas, small-scale shingles were chosen, adding texture and depth to the façade. Pretty Plastic’s shingles are easy to install and can be cut to size on-site, offering flexibility in detailing. The design incorporates a varying pattern, enhanced with a gradient of three green tones that subtly reference the surrounding landscape of the Tongelreep River.

Interested in specifying Pretty Plastic in your next project? Click here to learn more about its portfolio of 100% recycled, commercially-ready cladding products. And keep an eye out for our upcoming content covering Dutch Design Week 2024!