Pretty Plastic – Circular Façade Debut in Germany: Pretty Plastic and MVRDV Make an Architectural Statement in Munich

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Munich sets the stage for a visionary statement in recycling: for the first time, circular plastic façade panels from Dutch company Pretty Plastic are being used on a large scale in a German office building – the innovative new MONACO development by Rock Capital Group. The striking façade is made entirely from 100% recycled waste sourced from old building materials. The design is by the renowned Dutch architecture firm MVRDV. Construction began this summer, with completion scheduled for 2027.

Munich, August 2025 – In Munich’s trendsetting office district, the Werksviertel, MONACO adds a vibrant and sustainable new presence. Not only is it a bold and urban office building, it is also a pioneering architectural project in circular economy thinking. Around 20,000 façade tiles made from recycled plastic – produced by Dutch manufacturer Pretty Plastic – make MONACO the first project in Germany to feature this circular cladding material, which is gaining increasing international recognition.

Circular Design – From Eindhoven to England to Munich

Pretty Plastic previously clad the façade of the national swimming centre De Tongelreep in Eindhoven with over 30,000 tiles – a landmark in architectural upcycling. International recognition is also growing: the Whitburn Coastal Conservation Centre in the UK, featuring a Pretty Plastic façade, recently received the prestigious RIBA Award – often described as the ‚Oscars of architecture‘ – for its sensitive integration with the natural surroundings and powerful message of sustainable construction. The tiles are currently also featured in a major exhibition on sustainable building at the Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn.

“The idea of turning old drainpipes, guttering and plastic window frames into sustainable building material is resonating across Europe. In Munich – and for the first time in Germany – the plastic tiles play a prominent role in a multi-storey office building. A powerful statement for sustainable building on a large scale,” – Hajo Reinders, Managing Director and Partner at Pretty Plastic

From Street Art to Urban Sculpture

The design for MONACO is by the Dutch architecture firm MVRDV, which previously caused a stir in the Werksviertel with the WERK12 project. The two-part façade of MONACO – recycled bricks from demolished houses on one side, Pretty Plastic tiles on the front – highlights MVRDV’s progressive role in sustainable architecture. The combination of the neighbourhood’s street-art heritage with modern aesthetics results in a powerful visual statement for the circular economy. The façade panels flow into carefully coordinated colour tones, giving the building a sculptural quality that goes far beyond functional architecture

“With MONACO, we opted for a design that reflects the spirit of the times. The Werksviertel attracts an international audience and global businesses. The colourful appearance refers to the area’s history as a hub for art and culture. The largely recycled façade, with its nuanced colour scheme, gives the building character and makes a statement for the future in the urban space. We want to show that sustainability and design are not mutually exclusive,” – Sven Thorissen, Director of Studio DAS at MVRDV

Approvals, Costs, and Convictions

The road to this project was not straightforward. The use of Pretty Plastic façade tiles in a new-build project of this scale presented the German authorities with new challenges. Extensive fire safety tests, compensatory measures and additional permits were required. The costs were also higher than those of conventional façade materials – a conscious decision, as Andreas Wißmeier, Managing Director of Rock Capital Group, emphasises:

“If we truly want sustainable solutions to succeed, we need built examples like this. We are consciously absorbing the additional costs – out of conviction, because change always begins with those who dare.”

Setting a Benchmark for Germany

For Pretty Plastic, the project marks an important step in the DACH region. The collaboration with MVRDV and Rock Capital is already attracting international attention.

“The façade of MONACO will be completed in 2027 – but it’s already clear that this building has the potential to reshape the conversation around sustainable materials in Germany,” – Nadja Buntebardt, Rock Capital Group

She is currently in discussion with future tenants regarding the approximately 4,600 m² of office space, including rooftop gardens and terraces.

About Pretty Plastic – Building from Waste

Pretty Plastic designs and manufactures circular façade and roofing materials made from 100% recycled PVC, sourced from post-consumer construction waste such as old window frames and drainpipes. The Dutch company creates architecturally expressive products that make circular construction visible, tangible and inspiring. Their fully certified and award-winning tiles are now featured in prominent architectural projects across Europe – demonstrating how aesthetics and sustainability can reinforce one another in the built environment.

All renderings by MVRDV

📍Meet Pretty Plastic at #SmartCityDay2025 but start networking right now in our event community with Ilse Jansen from Pretty Plastic („Add friend“) and schedule an appointment for the Smart City Day.

🌐 Read more at www.prettyplastic.nl