Living Surfaces
This pattern is shaped by
Problem
When floors, walls, and ceilings are finished with synthetic materials — vinyl, laminate, painted drywall — they look their best the day they're installed and deteriorate from there. Scratches, dents, and wear are damage to be repaired or concealed. The building starts dying the moment it's born.
Evidence and Discussion
Natural materials — wood, stone, brick, plaster, concrete, copper, leather — age differently. They develop patina, grain, character. A scratched wood floor tells the story of the life lived on it. A worn stone threshold marks the passage of generations. The material becomes more beautiful with use, not less.
Therefore
finish floors, walls, and key surfaces with materials that age well under use — hardwood, stone, tile, lime plaster, brick, exposed concrete. Choose materials where wear adds character rather than damage. The test: will this surface look better in twenty years than it does today? If not, choose a different material. Avoid surfaces that peak on installation day.