Materials

Common urban building materials:

Brick and mortar: earthy, locally available in red-orange, permanent, labor intensive, non-structural, detailing is rare and expensive, readily transmits water, no insulating value, potential for mold if not insulated properly.

EIFS: manmade, available in any color, cheap, fast, any detailing is possible, water barrier, insulating, looks plain in large fields, dirties quickly

Glass Storefront: welcoming, advertising value, sheds water, cleanable, some insulating value (not much), simple installation

Glass Curtainwall: Opportunity for proportions, showy, produces glare and heat gain to other buildings, marginal interest level, expensive, dishonest at floor levels, generally inoperable and offer no ventilation and bulk heat gain and cooling loss.

Exposed steel structure: honest and demonstrative, very difficult to do well, difficult to seal for water and climate

CIP Concrete: honest and demonstrative, durable, expensive, difficult to detail, no insulating value - some mass value, condensation problems without proper insulation techniques

Pre-cast concrete: for show only, expensive

Wood: warm, welcoming, natural, honest - seldom used commercially because it burns and rots.