From brick to architectural metal, these pale-toned materials are both modern and timeless options that elevate exteriors.

1
Urban Cement by Pure + Freeform

Modern three-story building exterior with large reflective windows, a yellow ground-level section, and several yellow-leaved trees in front. Blue bicycle racks are visible on the left.

One of three new introductions to Pure + FreeForm’s Stocked Finish collection, Urban Cement replicates the raw, industrial characteristics of poured concrete on architectural metal. The grey tones of the colour feature slight variations to effectively reflect the qualities of real concrete; a silvery pearl underlayer lends surface depth and a subdued radiance.

Urban Cement Pure + Freeform

Made from 100 per cent recyclable aluminum, the exterior material — which resists fading, chalking or losing its gloss — was used by NBBJ to clad its Charlestown Labs development in Massachusetts (shown above).

2
Full Stone Bricks by Eco Outdoor

Modern building exterior with light gray brick walls, a large cylindrical column, and rectangular windows with curtains under a partly cloudy sky.

Photos (above, below and at top) by Mike Parlapiano

The Full Stone Bricks collection from Australian natural stone supplier Eco Outdoor has a signature elongated shape that is realized by sawing blocks of irregular stone that would normally be discarded (to reduce waste even further, leftover fragments are then crushed and repurposed as a material for roadways).

Eco Outdoor Full Stone Bricks

Through the company’s stringent excavation and production process, the bricks (which do not require high-temperature firing) reduce carbon emissions by more than 50 per cent. Melbourne’s JAK Architecture utilized the sophisticated stone for its recently completed Hermitage residence in Newtown (shown above and at top).

3
Casablanca by Glen-Gery

A modern apartment building with white brick exterior, vertical windows, and balconies, set against a clear blue sky.

Brick manufacturer Glen-Gery recently announced its 2026 Brick Color of the Year: Casablanca, a sun-bleached white hue with subtle variegation.

Casablanca Glen-Gery

Available as part of the brand’s Sioux River Series — an extruded brickface inspired by the rock formations and sinuous waterways of the Midwest — the tone is at once grounding, organic and complementary to a range of other colours and mortar joints.

The post A New Face for Exterior Materials Emerges in Muted Tones appeared first on Azure Magazine.

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