The average cement building block is a rectangle mass of compressed aggregate that is quite unassuming. In recent years there has emerged a new building block that is engineered for projects and new home builds with style in mind. It's an architectural cement block that offers a finished look, from a polished granite like appearance to a split-faced, irregular or coarse surface.
These are great because they can be used for both exterior and interior rough-in and finish surfaces simultaneously. They would be useful for a walk out basement that is exposed or for a basement with walls that have a polished interior finish. Using them in a variety of ways allows for construction without the added expense of having to apply texture, stucco and other finish applications later and are also available in a variety of earth tones.