Every structure, much like matter, inevitably shows signs of wear over time. From pristine finishes to eventual wear, the journey of a building is evident on its walls. But what if we could delay the inevitable? This webinar addresses exactly that — preserving the interior aesthetics and integrity of buildings and as a result, empowering architects and designers to think long-term.
Leading the conversation is Ryan Roessler, Product Manager for door and wall protection at Inpro, an industry leader in interior and exterior architectural products. With over six years of product management, a certification from PDMA and deep insights garnered during his nearly three years at Inpro, Ryan brings invaluable expertise to the architectural community. His discussion will focus on the strategic choices architects and designers can make to ensure building interiors stand the test of time.
If you missed the live session or want to delve into Ryan’s insights again, we have the recorded session ready for you. Click the button below to access the recording:
In the webinar, Ryan thoroughly explored the ins and outs of wall protection — from materials and installations to key decision-making processes, highlighting the main challenges architects often face.
All in all, in this webinar you can expect to learn how to:
Explore how the proper installation of wall protection materials — when specified with standard wall construction options — determines their effectiveness in interior applications.
Recognize when to specify wall cladding vs. targeted wall protection.
Examine the best-practice options for achieving effective and aesthetically pleasing interior protection.
Discover strategies to successfully design for the long term by avoiding the trap of first-cost value engineering.
The presentation offers deep insights, real-world examples and straightforward guidance, making it a must-watch for every architect and builder. Dive in to strengthen your designs and focus on lasting interiors.
The essence of a building’s long-lasting interior isn’t merely in its design but in the foresight of its lifespan and safeguarding it against wear and tear. So, don’t miss out on the opportunity to explore the tools and insights needed to design spaces that not only shine today but for years to come.
A lengthy walnut-panelled wall runs through the bright white living spaces inside this Barcelona apartment, renovated by local studio Raúl Sanchez Architects.
The Girona Street apartment is set within a 19th-century building in Barcelona’s affluent Dreta de l’Eixample neighbourhood and belongs to a design-savvy couple with two young children.
A 21-metre-long walnut-panelled wall runs the length of the Girona Street apartment
Prior to the renovation, the apartment contained a warren of small, dark living spaces bookended by an indoor patio and a sitting room that overlooks the street.
Raúl Sanchez Architects connected these two rooms with a 21-metre-long wall that stretches from one end of the floor plan to the other. While the majority of surfaces in the apartment were rendered in white micro-cement, the wall is crafted from walnut wood.
Spaces throughout are rendered in white micro-cement
“I thought of a material, which could contrast the whiteness with elegance and warmth while also adding texture and ruggedness,” founder Raúl Sanchez told Dezeen.
“We made several samples and trials until we got the right wood and the right porosity of walnut.”
A blue-painted dining room lies next to the lounge
A series of rooms run parallel to the wall, beginning with a dining area.
Here, a section of the rear wall was painted dark blue and fitted with a built-in bench seat, while the floor was inlaid with a square patch of patterned hydraulic tiles.
Further along the hallway, a sitting area was created just in front of a pair of stained glass windows. This is followed by two bedrooms that are partially painted blue to match the dining area.
One of them is fronted by a huge pivoting door that, like the apartment, is split into two sides. One half is clad with stainless steel and the other in brass.
A sea-green kitchen is hidden behind doors in the walnut-wood wall
More rooms lie concealed behind the long walnut wall, each accessed via a discrete flush door. This includes a U-shaped kitchen, which was almost entirely painted a sea-green hue.
There’s also a storage area, the family bathroom and the principal bedroom, where a floor-to-ceiling cream curtain helps conceal en-suite facilities.
Other rooms in the Girona Street apartment are concealed behind flush doors
The apartment’s indoor patio was freshened up, as was the street-facing sitting area. It now features a mint-green sideboard and bookshelf, as well as a decorative wall panel that mimics the brass-and-steel pivot door.
More hydraulic tiles were also incorporated into the floor, this time in mismatch prints.
Hydraulic floor tiles and mint-green furnishings feature in the living room
Raúl Sanchez Architects is behind a number of striking homes in Barcelona, aside from the Girona Street apartment.
This includes BSP20 House with its towering spiral staircase and the Tamarit Apartment, which is decked out with clashing materials.
Work to convert an art deco skyscraper from offices to residential use has completed, becoming the largest building in New York City to undergo this type of adaptive reuse.
A total of 566 homes now occupy One Wall Street, designed by Ralph Walker and completed in 1931, in Lower Manhattan’s Financial District.
The completion of One Wall Street’s conversion was marked by the reveal of a new model apartment
Developer Harry Macklowe of Macklowe Properties is behind the transformation, which encompasses one million square feet (92,900 square metres) of residential and 250,000 square feet (23,200 square metres) of commercial amenities.
“In the heart of the iconic financial district, One Wall Street, one of New York City’s most significant buildings, both in history and sheer size, has set the standard for residential conversions, marking yet another historic success,” said Macklowe.
The apartment was designed by Guillaume Coutheillas of FrenchCalifornia
“The goal was to incarnate empty spaces into thoughtfully redesigned residences that will stand the test of time and continue to answer future demands of modern living.”
The building’s opening was marked by the reveal of a new model residence, designed by Guillaume Coutheillas of FrenchCalifornia.
Residence 3404 features three bedroom and multi-aspect views
Residence 3404, one of the building’s largest, includes three bedrooms and multi-aspect views of New York harbour.
Coutheillas envisioned the interiors as if Macklowe himself were to live there, blending European influences using warm neutral colours.
Amenities in the tower include a “sky pool” with a glass ceiling
Many of the furniture and decor items were sourced from Mexico City studio Atra and are debuting in the space.
Other model residences completed last year were designed by Elizabeth Graziolo of Yellow House Architects and French architect and designer Cyril Vergniol.
A 6,500-square-foot (600-square-metre) co-working space available exclusively to residents and their guests was outfitted in partnership with architect Deborah Berke.
More amenity spaces cover the 38th and 39th floors, including a 75-foot (23-metre), glass-enclosed Sky Pool with a wraparound terrace, and a private restaurant, bar and dining room for residents.
One Wall Street was designed by Ralph Walker and completed in 1931
The Financial District, known locally as FiDi, is named for being home to the New York Stock Exchange and many global banking headquarters.
However, the area has gradually seen a rise in residential developments over the past decade.
The skyscraper is the largest office building to be converted for residential use in New York City’s history
Many of Manhattan’s office buildings are still struggling with low occupancy rates following the Covid-19 pandemic, so this type of office-to-residential conversion may become more common in the near future.
Spotted: Moss is a highly efficient, natural air filter, attracting tiny dust particles to its fine, dense leaves. The plant biodegrades, stores, and eats airborne particles such as soot, ammonium salts, carbon dioxide, and pollen, all of which are harmful to human health. Moss also absorbs warm air, producing a local cooling effect as heat evaporates.
Greencity Solutions tested 16,000 species of moss to find the most effective ones for use in moss wall biofilters. Living walls are becoming more common architectural features, and with the new moss version, cities have an improved ability to bring the fresh smell and clean air of a forest to crowded, busy locations. After removing the pollution and decreasing the temperature of the air, the moss releases cleaned, cooled air. The effects can be measured up to one and a half metres away from the wall.
Greencity’s three solutions are the CityTree, CityBreeze, and WallBreeze. All three designs use internet of things (IoT) technology to track local conditions and footfall and are connected to a proprietary, cloud-based data platform that automates irrigation and tracks plant growth and health.
The CityTree is a freestanding pillar with a bench that cleans air from all angles. The pillar includes space for an LED screen or poster, allowing owners to customise and change messaging. The CityBreeze is a slimmer design created for high-traffic areas such as train platforms, shopping centres, and car parks. One side is a moss wall and one side is a 75-inch LED screen for high-resolution communication. The WallBreeze is fitted onto a wall, and up to 25 panels can be connected for management by a single account on the data platform.
Springwise has spotted a range of green wall innovations, with some more experimental and in early stages, such as 3D printing with soil, and others that are well-developed, policy-focused solutions seeking immediate, permanent change. That latter includes an organisation in Spain working with local governments to expand the numbers of green roofs.
The double-stud wall is a well-established method for creating a very economical, durable, and high R-value assembly in new construction – and is one reason it’s included as one of the basic 475 Smart Enclosure System assembly types. We know pushing standard code-minimum construction toward high performance is complicated. So we’re always looking for ways to simplify – to simultaneously reduce cost while optimizing efficiency and occupant comfort. Integrated with Pro Clima air sealing and moisture control components, the double-stud wall provides unmatched economic value, safety from moisture damage, and long-lasting performance.
Go Sheathingless
With Pro Clima component integration, we’re taking it one step further. Below we illustrate a sheathingless double-stud wall (that’s right: no structural sheathing) that provides the following characteristics:
Minimized material costs
Maximized moisture drying potential
Removal of formaldehyde, VOC’s and other toxic chemicals commonly found in SPF, rigid foams, OSB, and plywood
Easily adjustable wall thickness to meet your design R-value
No special materials or connections needed for the framing components
Fits with the typical platform framing method
You can still frame your walls on the deck and raise them into place, but without all that sheathing they’ll be a lot lighter. With this system, you build a house out of 2x4s, fibrous insulation, SOLITEX MENTO Plus weather-resistive barrier outboard, INTELLO Plus smart vapor retarder inboard, and not much else.
The Framing
The wall consists of an inner load-bearing wall and an outer exterior finishing wall. The floor and roof loads are stacked on top of the inner wall studs. This method can allow the use 24″ o.c. advanced framing assembly if your floor and roof loads meet the design criteria. The inner wall is framed like any other stick-built wall, with the exception that the shear load is carried by 2x lumber nailed, or metal strapping mechanically fastened, diagonally, to the outside face of the inner stud wall – in the insulation cavity.
It’s important to note that each structure will have very different shear and uplift retention requirements due to variables in building height, the number of windows, local codes, shape of building, seismic requirements, etc. The outer wall is connected to the decks as outriggers, there to support the insulation and finished facade elements, and consequently, it requires minimal framing material and opening headers. In taller walls, it’s important to connect the inner and outer studs for additional strength as well as partition the bays every second bay – to make dense-packing of the double stud cavities easier to reach proper density and maintain quality control.
The Integrated Service Cavity
With this approach, the inner wall studs act as the service cavity without the need for additional strapping to support the interior finish – making it an integrated service cavity. This approach takes planning but allows for fewer steps and less material. An excellent example of this approach is demonstrated in our Project Spotlight: Vermont Integrated Architecture. Leicester, VT.
Two Air Barriers Too
To optimize the insulating value of the dense-pack insulation – airtight membranes are placed on both sides of the fibrous insulation, thereby preventing thermal bypass, as well as optimizing the drying reserves of this highly insulated wall. At the interior side is the INTELLO PLUS membrane, airtight with intelligent vapor control, making it vapor open in the summer to facilitate inward drying and vapor retarding in the winter to prevent vapor accumulation into the insulation. The INTELLO Plus is reinforced so that it substitutes for the typical mesh used in a dense-pack installation. At the exterior side is SOLITEX MENTO PLUS: airtight, waterproof, reinforced and vapor open, allowing for maximum drying potential to the outside without being restricted by an exterior sheathing, like plywood or OSB, which are Class II or low Class III vapor retarders.
Windows & Penetrations
The window is installed into a plywood box that ties together the inner and outer walls. We offer a wide selection of window air sealing tapes, but to keep it simple you need only TESCON PROFIL, or the even faster TESCON PROFECT, for the airtight connections at the interior and exterior of the window. (And don’t forget to pre-make your window corners!). At the sill heavy-duty self-sealing waterproofing is provided by EXTOSEAL ENCORS. There are multiple ways to create a thermal bridge free window installation – there are many variables depending on the window type and brand.
The most important thing is to make sure that the window is precisely connected to your interior and exterior airtight and moisture control layers. This will ensure that your installation will not have condensation due to air movement at this thermally weak intersection. Small air leakage at this connection will allow the interior winter humidity to enter the insulated cavity. Making an air-tight connection at all openings is the best way to prevent future structural damage.
The double-stud wall is a well-established method for creating a very economical, durable, and high R-value assembly in new construction – and is one reason it’s included as one of the basic 475 Smart Enclosure System assembly types. We know pushing standard code-minimum construction toward high performance is complicated. So we’re always looking for ways to simplify – to simultaneously reduce cost while optimizing efficiency and occupant comfort. Integrated with Pro Clima air sealing and moisture control components, the double-stud wall provides unmatched economic value, safety from moisture damage, and long-lasting performance.
Go Sheathingless
With Pro Clima component integration, we’re taking it one step further. Below we illustrate a sheathingless double-stud wall (that’s right: no structural sheathing) that provides the following characteristics:
Minimized material costs
Maximized moisture drying potential
Removal of formaldehyde, VOC’s and other toxic chemicals commonly found in SPF, rigid foams, OSB, and plywood
Easily adjustable wall thickness to meet your design R-value
No special materials or connections needed for the framing components
Fits with the typical platform framing method
You can still frame your walls on the deck and raise them into place, but without all that sheathing they’ll be a lot lighter. With this system, you build a house out of 2x4s, fibrous insulation, SOLITEX MENTO Plus weather-resistive barrier outboard, INTELLO Plus smart vapor retarder inboard, and not much else.
The Framing
The wall consists of an inner load-bearing wall and an outer exterior finishing wall. The floor and roof loads are stacked on top of the inner wall studs. This method can allow the use 24″ o.c. advanced framing assembly if your floor and roof loads meet the design criteria. The inner wall is framed like any other stick-built wall, with the exception that the shear load is carried by 2x lumber nailed, or metal strapping mechanically fastened, diagonally, to the outside face of the inner stud wall – in the insulation cavity.
It’s important to note that each structure will have very different shear and uplift retention requirements due to variables in building height, the number of windows, local codes, shape of building, seismic requirements, etc. The outer wall is connected to the decks as outriggers, there to support the insulation and finished facade elements, and consequently, it requires minimal framing material and opening headers. In taller walls, it’s important to connect the inner and outer studs for additional strength as well as partition the bays every second bay – to make dense-packing of the double stud cavities easier to reach proper density and maintain quality control.
The Integrated Service Cavity
With this approach, the inner wall studs act as the service cavity without the need for additional strapping to support the interior finish – making it an integrated service cavity. This approach takes planning but allows for fewer steps and less material. An excellent example of this approach is demonstrated in our Project Spotlight: Vermont Integrated Architecture. Leicester, VT.
Two Air Barriers Too
To optimize the insulating value of the dense-pack insulation – airtight membranes are placed on both sides of the fibrous insulation, thereby preventing thermal bypass, as well as optimizing the drying reserves of this highly insulated wall. At the interior side is the INTELLO PLUS membrane, airtight with intelligent vapor control, making it vapor open in the summer to facilitate inward drying and vapor retarding in the winter to prevent vapor accumulation into the insulation. The INTELLO Plus is reinforced so that it substitutes for the typical mesh used in a dense-pack installation. At the exterior side is SOLITEX MENTO PLUS: airtight, waterproof, reinforced and vapor open, allowing for maximum drying potential to the outside without being restricted by an exterior sheathing, like plywood or OSB, which are Class II or low Class III vapor retarders.
Windows & Penetrations
The window is installed into a plywood box that ties together the inner and outer walls. We offer a wide selection of window air sealing tapes, but to keep it simple you need only TESCON PROFIL, or the even faster TESCON PROFECT, for the airtight connections at the interior and exterior of the window. (And don’t forget to pre-make your window corners!). At the sill heavy-duty self-sealing waterproofing is provided by EXTOSEAL ENCORS. There are multiple ways to create a thermal bridge free window installation – there are many variables depending on the window type and brand.
The most important thing is to make sure that the window is precisely connected to your interior and exterior airtight and moisture control layers. This will ensure that your installation will not have condensation due to air movement at this thermally weak intersection. Small air leakage at this connection will allow the interior winter humidity to enter the insulated cavity. Making an air-tight connection at all openings is the best way to prevent future structural damage.
In this special lookbook sponsored by natural finishes brand Clayworks, we’ve selected 10 interiors from our archives that feature walls finished with the brand’s clay plaster.
Clay finishes are a healthy, breathable alternative to paints or wallpaper on internal walls and ceilings. Naturally pigmented and free of toxic ingredients, they are made of natural materials, do not require painting and are compostable.
Clayworks‘ plaster finishes are manufactured in Cornwall, England. Here are 10 homes, restaurants and offices that showcase their products.
Porteous’ Studio, Edinburgh, by Izat Arundell
Design studio Izat Arundell converted this former blacksmith’s workshop in Edinburgh into a compact apartment with a muted material palette.
Clay-based plaster was applied to the walls to create a calm tone, with a simple palette of stone and wood used to create an overall natural feel.
Find out more about Porteous’ Studio ›
Birch and Clay Refugio, London, by Rise Design Studio
As its name suggests, this renovated and extended London flat called Birch and Clay Refugio makes extensive use of clay finishes.
The kitchen features light grey plaster walls, while a calming light grey-green shade was used for the master bedroom and a light pastel pink in the children’s bedroom.
Find out more about Birch and Clay Refugio ›
Sticks n Sushi, London, by Norm Architects
This London sushi restaurant by Danish studio Norm Architects was designed to have a series of spaces each with its own atmosphere.
Light clay finishes were used in the larger, more open restaurant spaces, with darker tones applied to create a more intimate feel in the private dining areas.
Find out more about Sticks n Sushi ›
Devon Passivhaus, Devon, McLean Quinlan
This low-rise Passivhaus home by McLean Quinlan is set behind a red-brick wall that obscures the textured interiors and art-filled hidden courtyard.
The studio aimed to create a “serene” environment inside the home by pairing rough sawn oak flooring with clay plaster walls and charred wood cabinetry.
Find out more about Devon Passivhaus ›
Dulong store, Copenhagen, by Norm Architects
Norm Architects combined natural materials to create a calm finish for this jewellery showroom in Copenhagen, which was informed by modernist artists’ studios.
The studio used a light clay plaster with a smooth finish as the backdrop for the store that has oak flooring and travertine furniture.
Find out more about Dulong store ›
Barbican apartment, London, by Takero Shimazaki Architects
Takero Shimazaki Architects was informed by a client with strong ties with Japan for the interiors of this apartment in central London’s Barbican estate.
Throughout the flat, the studio aimed to balance Japanese architectural language with the concrete structure of the brutalist Barbican complex. Walls finished with clay were combined with tatami mats and numerous timber finishes.
Find out more about Barbican apartment ›
Hoof cafe, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, by Bone
Design studio Bone used rustic clay plaster for the walls of this cafe in the United Arab Emirates as part of its design that aims to recall horse stalls.
Named Hoof, the spartan cafe was furnished with blocky hand-brushed steel counters to contrast the naturally finished walls.
Find out more about Hoof cafe ›
Highgate home, London, by House of Grey
Interiors studio House of Grey chose the furnishings and finishes of this London home with the health of its occupants and the health of the planet in mind.
Along with custom-designed timber furniture and a bed upholstered using coconut husk fibres, the home’s walls are finished with natural clay.
Find out more about Highgate house ›
Leaf House, London, by Szczepaniak Astridge
Designed to be a peaceful retreat in south London, this loft extension contains a master bedroom focused on a wooden bath with views across London.
Japanese interior design, as well as sustainability, was important for the choice of materials used in the loft, which has clay covering its roof and walls.
Find out more about Leaf House ›
Clay House, London, by Simon Astridge
Architect Simon Astridge uses layers of coarse clay to line the walls of this one-bedroom apartment on the top floor of a Victorian mid-terraced property in London.
Appropriately named Clay House, the material was used to give an unfinished appearance to the walls and ceilings of the open plan living space and create a calm atmosphere in the bedroom.
Find out more about Clay House ›
This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing green kitchen interiors, peaceful bedrooms, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.
This lookbook was produced by Dezeen for Clayworks as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
In the webinar, Ryan thoroughly explored the ins and outs of wall protection — from materials and installations to key decision-making processes, highlighting the main challenges architects often face.
The presentation offers deep insights, real-world examples and straightforward guidance, making it a must-watch for every architect and builder. Dive in to strengthen your designs and focus on lasting interiors.
