Some Remarkable Wall Surfaces By Shabnam Arab

Some Remarkable Wall Surfaces

In our day to day life, we are constantly encountering a plethora of different surfaces. Each of these surfaces has its own unique qualities, some are smooth, some are rough, some scraggly and some slippery. In architecture, designers often utilize these qualities to realize a space differently or to create a point of visual interest. But while different surfaces definitely catch our eye, they also incite our ability to touch. Every time we see something fuzzy, we want to sink our hands into is; every time we encounter a coarse surface, we want to feel it with our fingers. Today, we’ll look at some unique surfaces and how they are redefining the spaces around them.

1. Brass Wall Cladding

In this modern farmhouse design by SR Design Works, Lahore, one of the walls of the central living space is realized in a brass wall cladding. The brass gives the effect of a sheet that has been crinkled, forming a unique surface relief with irregular bumps and dents. The light-reflecting subtly off this distinctive surface, along with its mesmerizing gold colour, immediately attracts your eye to the wall and becomes the feature of the room.

2. Carpet Tiles

In this office design by Ingenious Design Studio, Karachi, the designers cladded one of the walls of the conference room with carpet tiles, a unique use as these are usually used as a substitute for floor carpeting. Not only does this brighten up the room with a fresh combination of colours, but it also accentuates the wall with the soft texture of the carpet, adding cosiness to the room while also providing an additional layer of soundproofing.

3. Rammed Earth

The Telenor 345 building in Islamabad by Arcoppvt ltd. is realized entirely in a material called rammed-earth, where the walls are created through laying down a single layer of earth and compressing it, and repeating the process again until the wall reaches its required height. This results in a beautifully textured wall that shows off each individual layer of earth in ribbons of different hues. Walking through the building, you are surrounded by the earthy warmth of the material, the flowing lines of the rammed-earth leading you where you want to go.

4. Wood Paneling

In the Fincera Showroom Design by N Design Studio, Lahore, the designers seek to take the feeling of nature and replicate it in the interior of the showroom. One way in which it has done this is by imitating the character and feel of raw wood in its interior. In the cladding by the elevator doors, an organically shaped wood panel is used that retains its grooves and knots. The raw surface not only piques ones visual interest but also makes you want to feel the inconsistencies in the surface with your own fingers.

5. Metal Mesh Over Fair-Faced Plaster

In Salman Nasir`s Residence by DB Studios, Islamabad, vertical metal mesh panels are used to accentuate the brutalist nature of the fair-faced plaster. A common material used in a unique way, the dense grating of the mesh panels add a unique texture against the plaster and amplifies the rawness of the material. This, along with the vertical grooves in the plaster, add further character and depth to the facade, as the concentration of the grating contrasts against the bareness of the plaster.