Spring is a season of renewal, but for architects it is also a reminder that every beautiful surface begins with a decision made below it. This edition of Specifile SPOTLIGHT features two building systems that sit at the intersection of specification and performance: a full substrate rebuild and Tru-Wood XL installation by Traviata Flooring at The Key School for Autism in Johannesburg and the technical case for Geberit HDPE drainage, from welded jointing and chemical resistance to the acoustic performance of Silent-db20 SuperTube.

One feature is about what sits beneath a floor. The other is about what runs behind a wall. Both are about the systems architects specify that their clients never see but rely on every day, because durability is a design choice.