The right material description makes the difference between a generic render and a convincing photorealistic visualization. This guide provides copy-paste ready prompts for every architectural material.
Key Principle: Be specific. Instead of "wooden facade", say "horizontal Siberian larch cladding with silver-grey weathered patina". The more detail, the better the result.
Wood Materials
Exterior Cladding
Siberian Larch (Weathered)
Popular for modern Scandinavian architecture. Weathers to a beautiful silver-grey.
horizontal Siberian larch cladding with silver-grey weathered patina, subtle wood grain texture
Western Red Cedar
Warm honey tones, commonly used in Pacific Northwest and contemporary homes.
vertical western red cedar cladding with natural warm honey tones, visible wood grain
Charred Wood (Shou Sugi Ban)
Japanese technique producing deep black finish with unique texture.
shou sugi ban charred timber cladding with deep black carbonized finish, subtle alligator texture
Thermally Modified Wood
Heat-treated for durability, rich brown tones.
thermally modified ash cladding in rich brown tone, uniform color, smooth finish
Interior Wood
Oak Flooring
wide plank European oak flooring with natural matte finish, subtle grain variation
Walnut Paneling
American black walnut wall paneling with rich chocolate brown tones, book-matched grain
Stone Materials
Exterior Stone
Natural Limestone
Classic material for traditional and contemporary facades.
natural limestone cladding in warm beige, bush-hammered finish with subtle fossil texture
Rough Hewn Stone
Rustic appearance for bases and feature walls.
rough hewn natural stone masonry in warm beige/grey, irregular coursing, deep mortar joints
Welsh Slate
Dark grey with purple undertones, premium roofing material.
natural Welsh slate in dark grey with subtle purple undertones, riven surface texture
Granite
Durable, polished or flamed finish options.
polished black granite with visible mineral flecks, mirror-like reflection
Interior Stone
Carrara Marble
Carrara marble with soft grey veining on white background, polished finish
Travertine
honed travertine in warm cream tone, filled and polished, subtle pitting
Render & Plaster
Smooth White Render
Clean modern aesthetic.
clean white thermal insulation panels with matte finish, subtle horizontal joints
Warm Cream Plaster
Traditional Mediterranean feel.
smooth rendered plaster in warm cream tone, slight texture variation, matte finish
Textured Stucco
textured stucco finish in warm off-white, trowel marks visible, Mediterranean character
Concrete
Board-Marked Concrete
Brutalist aesthetic showing formwork texture.
board-marked fair-faced concrete with visible formwork texture, horizontal wood grain imprint
Smooth Concrete
smooth grey concrete with chamfered edges, uniform color, minimal surface variation
Exposed Aggregate
exposed aggregate concrete with visible rounded pebbles, grey cement matrix
Metal
Panels & Cladding
Aluminum Composite
anthracite aluminum composite panels with concealed fixings, matte finish
Corten Steel
Weathered steel with distinctive rust patina.
weathered corten steel panels with rich rust patina, orange-brown tones, natural oxidation pattern
Zinc
zinc standing seam cladding with natural grey patina, blue-grey undertones
Copper (Patinated)
patinated copper cladding with green verdigris finish, natural weathering patterns
Roofing
Standing Seam Metal
anthracite grey standing seam metal roof with metallic sheen, clean vertical ribs
Glass
Floor-to-Ceiling Glazing
floor-to-ceiling glazing with subtle blue-green tint, sky reflections, slim aluminum frames
Frameless Glass Balustrade
frameless structural glass balustrade with stainless steel handrail, minimal fixings
Frosted Glass
acid-etched frosted glass panels, soft diffused light transmission
Brick
Traditional Red Brick
traditional red clay brick in Flemish bond, weathered mortar joints, natural color variation
Dark Engineering Brick
dark grey engineering brick in stretcher bond, thin mortar lines, uniform color
White Brick
white-washed brick in running bond, soft lime finish, subtle texture
Combining Materials
Most buildings use multiple materials. Here's how to combine them:
Modern Mixed Facade
Facade: clean white thermal panels on upper floors, rough hewn natural stone base in warm beige, floor-to-ceiling glazing with anthracite aluminum frames, frameless glass balustrade
Contemporary Wood + Concrete
Facade: horizontal Siberian larch cladding with silver-grey patina, board-marked concrete ground floor, large glazed openings with black steel frames