Honest Materials
This pattern is shaped by
Problem
When materials pretend to be something they're not — vinyl that imitates wood, concrete stamped to look like stone, plastic trim shaped like carved timber — the building is dishonest at the level of touch. People sense this dishonesty even when they can't name it. The building feels cheap, temporary, and disposable because it is.
Evidence and Discussion
Honest materials show what they are: wood looks like wood, concrete looks like concrete, steel looks like steel. They age according to their nature — wood darkens, copper patinas, stone weathers. They can be repaired because their construction is visible. The emotional difference between a building made of honest materials and one made of imitations is immediate and profound.
Therefore
use materials that show what they are and reveal how they're made. Wood should be wood, not vinyl shaped to look like wood. Stone should be stone, not concrete stamped to look like stone. Where budget requires economical materials, use them honestly — exposed concrete block is more dignified than fake stone veneer. The test: can you repair this material with the same material? If the answer is no, it's a veneer, not a finish.