Selecting materials and finishes is an integral part of specifying site furniture products. This course reviews typical conditions inherent to outdoor environments, along with the potential impact on materials, products and installed projects. A range of materials commonly used outdoors, including wood, metal, concrete and glass, is examined against a selection framework that compares conventional materials with high-performance options, and considers material durability, performance, aesthetics, and environmental impact. Examples of outdoor products incorporating materials that balance these diverse criteria while offering tremendous design potential are also examined.

Presented by various experts on behalf of Forms+Surfaces.