Better With Age: 5 Projects Positioning Patina as a Dominant Design Detail

Corten steel, concrete and copper. These magic materials not only give buildings an aged look; they help in other ways, too.

Samantha Frew

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There is no desperation in building decay, no sadness in the natural process of aging — only a quiet, knowing elegance, creating a place that can abandon any vanity of youth and instead lean fully into the grace that only time can bestow.

A limestone balustrade, once a gleaming marvel, softened by decades of caresses—each hand that has passed over it leaving an indelible mark. A copper dome, once a brazen beacon in its youth, now wearing a dignified cloak of verdigris. Cracks in lime plaster have spread like fine spider silk, delicate yet determined, each line beginning to record the countless seasons that have come and gone.

Patina is the result of interaction — with nature, humanity and time. It happens through processes such as moisture interacting with minerals, oxidation in the air, or the gradual build-up of natural materials like moss or algae. Patina doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a slow, organic process determined by the unique conditions of a building’s environment— rain, wind, pollution, sunlight — all leaving their mark in subtle and unpredictable ways.

Rather than masking the effects of aging, patina enhances character, adding texture and depth to a surface. For architecture, patina brings warmth, richness and a sense of history to a building, making it feel lived-in and connected to its surroundings. It also acts as a form of natural preservation, protecting any underlying materials from further decay. The following A+Award-winning projects cherish and celebrate the authenticity patina brings and serve as a reminder that perfection lies not in pristine surfaces but in the graceful acceptance of change and age.

Liminal House

By McLeod Bovell Modern Houses, West Vancouver, Canada

Jury and Popular Choice Winner, Residential Interiors (>3000 sq ft), 12th Annual A+Awards

Photographs by Hufton and Crow

Liminal House’s concrete surfaces react subtly to their coastal environment. Salt carried by the strong ocean breezes will pit the surface, while carbonation — a process where carbon dioxide in the air interacts with calcium hydroxide in the material — will give the concrete a denser, more resilient finish. Over time, the once grey façade will shift to earthier hues as rain leaves mineral streaks that slowly soften its color, allowing the family home to blend better with the rugged shoreline. Surprisingly the evolving patina actually helps to protect the structure, reducing porosity while visually anchoring it to the landscape.

River Bend Residence

By Lake|Flato Architects, New Braunfels, Texas

Popular Choice Winner, Private House (M 2000 – 4000 sq ft), 12th Annual A+Awards

Photograph by Casey Dunn

Around the façade of River Bend Residence, Lake|Flato Architects used weathered Corten steel that will continue to oxidize with exposure to the elements. Not only a visually interesting design choice, the pre-rusted surface, a result of oxidation, has a stable layer that will protect the underlying metal as it deepens in tone thanks to the moisture in the surrounding air. Inside, a use of Douglas fir allows for more evolution as the golden timber shifts to a silvery-grey over time. Together, these materials will age naturally, allowing the building to mature comfortably in its dense woodland environment while helping it to withstand the pressures of time.

Madrone Ridge

By Field Architecture, Sonoma County, California

Jury Winner, Private House (L 4000 – 6000 sq ft), 12th Annual A+Awards

Photography by Joe Fletcher Photography

Copper cladding at Madrone Ridge offers a striking example of how the correct material choice can allow a building to synchronize with its environment. Initially bright and reflective, over time, the copper will begin to oxidize on contact with the air, creating a protective patina that shifts from coppery tones to deep greens and browns. This natural aging process shields the metal from further corrosion and will result in the home becoming integrated more comfortably into the surrounding valley.

Casa Lohr

By Veinte Diezz Arquitectos, Mérida, Mexico

Jury and Popular Choice Winner, Residential Renovations and Additions, 12th Annual A+Awards

Photographs by Manolo R. Solis

At Casa Lohr, the exposed plasterwork reveals the structure’s colonial origins. The rough texture, left intentionally unfinished, allows the passage of time to play a visible role in the building’s aesthetic. Cracks and weathering expose layers of stone and brick beneath, with each imperfection marking the history of the structure. As the plaster continues to age, the façade will gradually soften, embracing the rawness of its materials and creating an ongoing dialogue between the architecture and the forces that shape it.

Murka Hotel (Phase II)

By Thinking Design, Wenzhou, China

Popular Choice Winner, Hotels and Resorts, 12th Annual A+Awards

Thinking Design’s use of local stone and reclaimed timber at Murka Hotel initially helps the building blend with the natural landscape. Its raw texture and color palette pay homage to the traditional culture of the area. However, it is the use of biophilia here that will drastically alter the south-facing hotel’s appearance over time. As the stone weathers, its surface will darken and roughen, and the abundant plant life will grow on and around it. The wild grass-covered roofs will grow into the valley, allowing the buildings to be increasingly absorbed into its environment becoming a living habitat.