Where did half-timber framed houses originate?

[Visitor_22]

Where did it originated and came from?


From Britain, France, Germany or any other place?





Timber framed houses in Britain

http://ourtimeout.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/7-2-emblematic-tudor-architecture-of-chester.jpg

http://www.fauxwoodbeams.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/chester08big.jpg

http://www.bugbog.com/images/galleries/england_pictures/canterbury-photos/rowing.jpg



in France

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_34IBgaAfa5A/TG5R08DIjgI/AAAAAAAABPE/SxLtruvo2I0/s1600/DSC03626.jpg

http://www.winerist.com/images/uploads/temp_file_Alsace_31.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qxdtdcAxVHY/UEQj6guLAaI/AAAAAAAAAHo/xOF0LISWqms/s1600/DSC00685.JPG



in Germany

http://theshellmeister.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/dsc00335.jpg

http://easyhiker.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/7823009674_e23df9ea55_z.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Hann._M%C3%BCnden-Timber.Framing-22-Marktstrasse.JPG

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/46249488.jpg





Noticed they are much more popular in Germany, than elsewhere.


P.S. Sorry for stupid questions.

[Visitor_22]

...

[Ouistreham]

This is not a stupid question, and I'll try to answer it.

Timber-framed architecture is not related to any particular culture.
But some cultures disliked it.

Actually, most half-timbered buildings remarkably show up in areas with mixed Celtic and Germanic influences: Central Germany, North-Central France, England.

On the other hand, purely Celtic areas ignored it by and large (Scotland, Ireland, Brittany have a preference for stone architecture), as well as purely Germanic Norway and Sweden.

Timber-framed architecture is virtually absent in Southern Europe, not only because wood resources were scarce, but because the Romans banned it. They use to make densely built towns made of attached houses using as little wood as possible, due to fire hazards. Half-timbered houses are therefore virtually unknown in areas where Italian influence was predominant (including Austria, Southern Bavaria, South-eastern France). There are however two remarkable exceptions in the Mediterranean world: the Basque country, that developed a timber-framed style of its own, and... Turkey!

Note : the "French" examples you show are actually Alsacian, i.e. Alemannic, more German than French. French half-timbered houses are distinguished by their preference for repetitive X-patterns or parallel poles:

Champagne (Troyes):
http://www.troyes-expo.com/assets/media/images/troyes-rue-emile-zola.jpg

Anjou:
http://xavier-benony.com/Grandes%20vignettes/Angers%20Colombage%201%20Ste%20Croix.jpg

Paris:
http://files1.structurae.de/files/photos/64/paris_4eme_arrondissement/paris_4eme_arr_11_13_rue_francois_miron_maisons_en _pans_de_bois.jpg
Normandy:
http://www.i-voyages.net/xgalerie/img/311400_1743277520941_1808838747_1174368_551873_n.j pg