If you’re a designer working in education—and you want to create spaces that last and lower your carbon impact—then listen to this video.
Most early learning centres still use plastic-wrapped MDF, vinyl, and glue-heavy boards.
They look good on day one.
But by year five, they’re chipped, waterlogged, and heading replacement.
At Village Green in Remuera, we did something different.
They used 100% recycled Cleanstone panels as bench tops and locker doors in kitchens, bathrooms and play arounds around the centre.
It's Designed for heavy use, messy play, and low maintenance
And what I love so much is the story of how it helps to support Village Green's kaupapa of reconnecting tamariki with nature
These lockers and benchtops aren’t just durable. They’re circular. They’re made from recycled soft plastics —giving them a second life in a space that actually matters.
Quick stats:
Each panel avoids over 1000x the carbon of traditional materials
You can sand and refit them years later
No toxic glues, no VOCs, and no surprises
This is what all sustainable early learning design should look like and Jade Hurst is leading the way with Village Green.
If you want to build spaces that feel intentional—materials, values, and durability all working together—I'd love to talk to you.
Jump on criticaldesign.nz or book a call with me here: https://lnkd.in/grtcQ9v2
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