Here in Halifax, Nova Scotia, due to misguided planning rules and a predominant sentiment favoring faux-Victorian architecture. we have a lot of new buildings with modern materials trying to look old. Most of them don't come off very well. Some examples:
This is a residential block currently under construction. The cladding on the lower floors is precast concrete, supposed to look like stone, but just looks like concrete block. Photo by SSP member phrenic:
Here's another one, same product, same result. Halifax architecture is really quite unfortunate, full of uninspired sameness. Photo by SSP member Haliguy:
The amount of bad faux-historic architecture here is really depressing. Look at this abomination, built just a couple of years ago. Photo by SSP user Smevo:
This one was a major project that was just completed last year. They actually used real stone on the lower section, but the rest of it is precast concrete and looks it. Another Smevo shot:
Same building from the other side, originally posted by SSP member Someone123:
Another one that comes off even worse. Photo by SSP member Someone123:
Same project, different angle, by SSP member Bluenoser:
Perhaps the best bad example of such materials in use in Halifax is the 5 year-old Residence Inn by Marriott, but I have been unable to find a picture other than this tiny one which really doesn't do it's awfulness proper justice:
So, not always are these faux-historic finishes a good thing. Halifax is a good example of bad architecture that results from trying to make something new look old.