more recently, concrete fabricators have achieved the rusticated look through a process of splitting double-sized blocks with a sharp angled blade. as the aesthetic value of textured concrete block has become recognized, sales have steadily risen and many manufacturers have come to refer to it as architectural concrete block. architects have begun specifying these concrete blocks not only for back-up walls but for cladding as well. the discontinuation of the practice of using plaster molds has eliminated repetitive patterns across concrete block faces, that hinted at their illegitimacy as natural stone, and allowed for irregularity that casts a variation of light and shadows. once seen as a building material only suitable for low-budget projects, concrete block, through these advancements in texturing and ornamentation, has become a highly desired conduit for architectural design.