Greenhouse by Joost is the place where cut-down beer bottles and jars are turned into glasses, off-cuts of plywood become plates and a unique material made from recycled plastic waste becomes a vivid coloured, durable splashback in a hectic kitchen. Joost Bakker, creator of Greenhouse is all about recycling and recyclability, about reducing waste and reducing harm. It’s no wonder that even in bright orange, recycled and recyclable Plaspanel® fits in so well.
This latest Greenhouse by Joost, the fourth so far, was temporarily erected at Southbank for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Greenhouse is a pop-up restaurant that combines food, art, building design and ecology. Joost, a Dutch born florist/artist/builder/designer and environmentalist analyses the environmental impact of every product he uses and has been a long-term supporter of Plaspanel®.
Plaspanel® is a great product to work with. It can be cut, routed, drilled, welded and mechanically fixed with standard tools. It’s waterproof so it does not rot, swell, delaminate, deteriorate or absorb moisture. The almost maintenance-free sheets are coloured all the way through and are rustproof and resistant to chemicals, bacteria and mould. Each panel is a standard 2440 mm x 1220 mm and comes in a range of thicknesses from 9 mm to 32 mm.
Plaspanel® is a fantastic example of closed loop recycling. Manufactured from recycled post-consumer waste in high-density polyethylene (HDPE), Plaspanel® itself can also be recycled. All waste or leftover product can simply be separated from other materials and sent for recycling – further reducing waste going to landfill.
Like others, Joost has used Plaspanel® in a number of projects and applications. The lightweight sheets are so durable and versatile; they can be used in furniture, cladding, cabinetry, signage, playground equipment and even in agricultural and marine applications. Of course, they can also be used as an eye-catching splashback in a contemporary restaurant.
