Architectural Finishes – What are they and what

purpose(s) do they serve?

An analysis of architectural finishes and the role they play.

What is an architectural finish?

We often talk about ‘architectural finishes’ within the construction industry and in everyday
language in relation to aspects of a building that is visible to anyone using or viewing both the
exterior and interior parts of a building. Architects and designers typically use this terminology
specifically to describe a wide range of surface treatments to horizontal surfaces (floors and
ceilings) and vertical surfaces (walls) fixed to the main structural elements of the building (floor
and ceiling slabs, block walls or stud walls) to complete or enhance the aesthetic experience of
interior and exterior parts of a building.

How to define the term

A search for a clear definition of “architectural finishes” yields meagre returns however a simple
unpacking of the root words is helpful. ‘Architecture’ according to the Penguin Dictionary of
Architecture and Landscape Architecture is about the design of structures that is ‘in keeping
with aesthetic, functional or other criteria’ while a ‘Finish’ is simply something that completes or
concludes a process. The engineering network website gives the closest thing to a formal
definition; defining an architectural finish as “a standard finish characterized by a uniformly good
appearance. This finish is most often specified for ‘exposed’ surfaces”. The primary supporting
structures of any building are the foundations, floors, columns and beams, walls and roof, all of
which can be architectural in as much as they convey both functional and aesthetic intents.

Architectural finishes that complete the treatment of any horizontal and vertical surfaces whilst
not being strictly necessary for the structural integrity of the building, serve both functional and
certainly aesthetic purposes. As such, it is a description that can be applied to both the surface
treatments applied to the exterior as well as the interior of a building or structure and includes its
overall expanse (surface area) and may also refer to its junctions and connections between one
surface treatment and another (in reference to the ‘finishing’.
Prague’s Nationale-Nederlanden building designed by Vlado Milunić and Canadian Frank Gehry. The
shape of the building was created by the use of 99 concrete panels, each a different shape and
dimension.

Architectural finishes in a holistic sense can refer to a variety of textures, solidities, colours and
materials and refers to hard and soft permanently fixed finishes such as plaster or render and
other surface coatings, such as paint and wallpaper, internal and external claddings of timber,
stone, glass, resins and aggregates, metals, ceramics and polycarbonates. This emphasis on a
fixed nature indicates a line of separation between architectural and decorative finishes which
typically encompass loose decorative finishes for example, curtains and blinds, screens and
cushions and temporarily attached fixtures that are designed to be removable for ease of
regular updates due to changes in style and taste.

Structural or not

Architectural finishes by their distinct permanent and fixed nature can in some instances
contribute to the structural weight of the building and need to be included in the structural
calculations at the design and detailing stage prior to construction to ensure that these can be
adequately supported by the building supporting structure. Although loose fixtures and fittings
such as furniture and furnishings are also supported by the building fabric, these do not provide
structural stability but may place additional demands on the building’s primary structural
support. In differentiating between interior decorative finishes and architectural (interior and
exterior) finishes, we can see that architectural finishes can serve a supportive structural role,
an integral functional role such as protection against water permeability and improvement of the
resistance of the primary structure to dirt, as well serve an aesthetic role by enhancing the
overall beauty of a building or structure.

Current trends in architectural finishes for interior use include:

 Ironmongery ranges specially design to appeal to specific aesthetic tastes,

 water or oil-based paints for modern and historic buildings with breathable, wipe-able
and fungicidal
properties,
 paper and vinyl wallpapers,
 metals such as aluminium and stainless steel that may be milled, textured and
embossed panels,
 external metal (aluminium, copper, titanium) patterned and embossed claddings,
 external rain screens.
The staircase for Google, 6 Pancras Square, London, UK used blackened stainless steel with over-wax
finish to create a sculptural feel. Showing view from below the stairs. Photography by Tim Soar.

Traditional brick and natural stone claddings are also staging a strong comeback due to their
durability and low maintenance costs. Some of the architectural finishes mentioned above can
also play a key role in the process of reconfiguring and redeveloping an existing building to
extend its lease of life, and also in terms of re-use of buildings or change of use of buildings
from one typology to another. This whole area of building refurbishment and change of use of
buildings means that often it is not the primary supporting structure that undergoes major
changes, but the architectural finishes are removed and may be changed, or modified and
reconfigured to facilitate the process of extending a building’s lifespan, or transform it into new
use(s).
The Red Brick Art Museum in Bejing, China, designed by architect Dong Yugan, uses brick for interior
and exterior cladding incorporating sculptural surfaces and structures. Image from dezeen.

Ultimately, the terminology ‘architectural finishes’ describes final finishing for horizontal and
vertical (interior and exterior) surfaces and is not describing a new idea at all, as many of the
types of finishes identified above have been around for hundreds of years. They are an integral
part of architecture and building; serving as a conclusion of the process of achieving functional
and aesthetic purposes. Although these finishes may not help provide structural support for a
building or structure, they serve clear functional purposes and make an unquantifiable
contribution to the perception of the beauty of buildings and structures.