Book excerpt: The growing variety of materials available for interior applications makes the process of selecting and sampling them ever more complex and time consuming. This manual from the Construction and Design series provides concise information on the subject alongside a wealth of inspiration. It offers an overview of materials suited to particular components of a building - including walls, ceiling, and floors - and objects. Both traditional and new materials are described in a knowledgeable and practical manner. It is not only a material itself that determines the appearance of a surface, but also the design and arrangement of the joins. After a material's surface, the chosen laying pattern is the next key aspect that influences its spatial effect. The book, therefore, includes a wide range of different laying patterns. It conveys fundamental knowledge of materials and their application, and thus serves as a reference book, a sampling guide, and a compendium for students.