Paneling and Trim - Can gloss painted walls replace baseboards?!

I recently purchased a renovated home and the architect decided not to place baseboads but to paint the bottom ten centimetres of the wall with a gloss paint (rest is matt). The floor is made out of oak and the gap has simply been filled with silicon in the same colour as the wood. As I start to paint the walls a different colour I wonder whether I need to ensure that the bottom ten centimtres are in the same colour but in gloss or if I should consider installing baseboards in the house?.
The architect said that the gloss paint border replaces baseboards as its more resistent than the matt paint in the walls...

Personally I'd install base boards. It's true that enamel paint will withstand more abuse/wear than flat paint but a wooden baseboard is stronger than drywall or plaster.

Enamel paint will help to protect the color but a wooden base will help to protect the wall!

well, architects and designers always have wonderful design ideas that don't work in the real world.

Gloss paint certainly cleans up better that matte paint... but I don't think it is any match for years of abuse from mops, vacuum cleaners or the kids' radio controlled cars. :eek: