Set against the dramatic backdrop of England’s North East coast and framed by the historic Souter Lighthouse, the Whitburn Coastal Conservation Centre is a bold expression of sustainable, context-driven architecture.
Designed by MawsonKerr Architects and built by Arcas, the centre is clad with Pretty Plastic First One Panels, made entirely from post-consumer and post-industrial PVC construction waste.
In total, 3,896 kilograms of plastic waste were upcycled into 161 square metres of facade. This waste might have otherwise ended up in landfill or incineration. Instead, it now lives on as an architectural surface that is both resilient and visually striking.
The cladding of the conservation centre was carefully chosen to complement the site’s heritage and natural surroundings. The recycled grey Pretty Plastic Panels, subtle and stormy in tone, mirror the North Sea skies while reinforcing the building’s mission: to educate, preserve, and inspire.
Developed in collaboration with the National Trust and SeaScapes Partnership, the project brings attention to coastal conservation challenges while embodying the solution in its very skin. The centre also served as a pilot project for the National Trust’s sustainability matrix, helping shape their approach to sustainable construction across the UK.
The building achieved an EPC ‘A’ rating—a testament to how design and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
Constructed on complex terrain, including a former firing range and quarry infill, the project demanded innovative, low-impact solutions. MawsonKerr’s ‘fabric-first’ approach included a CLT structure with excellent thermal performance, triple-glazed windows for energy efficiency, a sedum roof supporting solar panels and biodiversity and a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system powered by an air-source heat pump.
Externally, the building is wrapped in Pretty Plastic Panels: a lightweight, durable cladding choice that helped avoid the use of structural steel and reduce the project’s embodied carbon. The tiles are crafted from PVC waste such as old window frames, gutters, and pipes, transformed from environmental burden into architectural benefit.
With Pretty Plastic Panels, what once was waste is now a permanent part of the landscape, blending beauty with purpose on one of the UK’s most scenic coastlines.
Diamantvormig, iconisch paneel dat jouw gebouw, gevel of dak een unieke uitstraling geeft.
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