During the development of the Nature Education Centre in Zelzate, an unexpected opportunity for reuse presented itself: laminated timber beams from a warehouse in Kortrijk – at that moment being demolished – became available for repurposing. The design was adapted and structurally recalculated to match the dimensions and load-bearing capacity of the reclaimed beams.

By tailoring the design to match what was available at the moment of dismantling, the project sidestepped the need for storage and the logistical delays often associated with reuse. The primary structure incorporates reclaimed laminated beams, while the façade is clad with wooden cassettes once used for brick drying. Held in place by their original metal bands, these cassettes remain unaltered and fully reusable. To further reduce environmental impact, the entire building stands on screw piles – a lightweight, non-invasive foundation system that can be fully removed in the future.