Location, location, location. Pleasing aesthetics for the exterior of any building are often tied to where that building is located. For example, in the Northeast, brick and wood are more desirable and therefore more prevalent as the go-to material for a building’s facade. In the Southwest, architects and building owners often rely on plaster to deliver traditional looks. The common denominator for today’s design is that one type of material is no longer good enough. Combining multiple aesthetics into the design of a building is the standard rather than the exception. Because the days of monolithic design are long gone, architects are pushing the limits seeking to integrate materials for a modern, sophisticated look.
At the same time, no designer can afford to sacrifice performance for a look that will turn heads. Ever-evolving, stricter building codes and heightened expectations from building owners and occupants demand the right balance between beauty, comfort, and durability.