Construction and Design Manual. Materials and Finishings

Apart from the shape and construction, it is materials that play a crucial role in the experience of an interior space. Surfaces and combinations of materials evoke specific emotions and reactions in people. The right choice of materials is therefore something that cannot be underestimated where the design of interiors, objects or stand-alone products are concerned.
The growing variety of materials that are available makes the sampling process evermore complex and time-consuming. The new textbook Materials and Finishings, that was devised at the Detmolder Schule für Architektur und Innenarchitektur (Detmold School of Architecture and Interior Architecture in Detmold, Germany), provides an overview and basic knowledge of materials and their applications. Everything that can be used for interior spaces is presented in regard to its suitability and properties. All materials are categorised in their respective sections of intended use, such as floors, walls, ceilings and stand-alone objects. The descriptions range from the traditional to newest materials and how to employ them. New materials are grouped into established categories, which makes them easily identifiable. Emphasis is also given to the sustainability of traditional and ecological building materials. Yet it's not only the material itself that determines the effect of a surface, but also the design, arrangement of the joints and chosen laying pattern, which is why a large array of patterns and examples of combinations are included in the book.