Educational institutions of the future

Cladding made of recycled 'pretty plastics' at Howest college

Anticipating the future. That is the motto of Howest, the University College West Flanders. The expansion of their new campus in Bruges is in line with this motto. The innovative educational institution aims for a concept in which sustainability is central. It was with this mission in mind that design agency Inbo set to work.

Inbo left the recognisable buildings intact and in addition to the sustainable solutions they developed, new materials were kept to a minimum. The materials they did then add were always multifunctional.

The eye-catcher of the building is the façade. This is made of 'pretty plastic', a type of cladding in panels made from recycled materials. The product contributes to a circular economy where waste does not exist and raw materials can be reused again and again. On top of that, it is resistant to water and is produced with rainwater. The pretty plastics should become one of many solutions for the future where a circular economy is the norm.