Book excerpt: A comprehensive reference of materials for interior designers and architects Choosing the right material for the right purpose is a critical—and often overlooked—aspect in the larger context of designing buildings and interior spaces. When specified and executed properly, materials support and enhance a project's overall theme, and infuse interior space with a solid foundation that balances visual poetry and functionality. Materiality and Interior Construction imparts essential knowledge on how materials contribute to the construction and fabrication of floors, partitions, ceilings, and millwork, with thorough coverage of the important characteristics and properties of building materials and finishes. Individual coverage of the key characteristics of each material explores the advantages and disadvantages of using specific materials and construction assemblies, while helping readers discover how to make every building element count. In addition, Materiality and Interior Construction: Is highly illustrated throughout to show material properties and building assemblies Supplies rankings and information on the "green" attributes of each material so that designers can make informed decisions for specifications Is organized by application for easy and quick access to information Includes a companion website, featuring an extensive online image bank of materials and assemblies Rather than a typical catalog of materials, Materiality and Interior Construction is efficiently organized so that the reader is guided directly to the options for the location or assembly they are considering. Reliable and easy to use, Materiality and Interior Construction is a one-stop, comprehensive reference for hundreds of commonly used materials and their integration as building components—and an invaluable resource that every interior designer or architect should add to their set of tools.