Timber frame houses and Ireland

Galego

I am originally from the north of Spain which has a colder winters (wet enough) and hot summers than here in Ireland and one thing which I always wonder is why the time frame houses are so popular in Ireland but completely in-existence where I come from – where concrete, block and steel are the main material uses to raise houses. Are we getting wrong and the Irish right? Is your climate more adequate to these sort of constructions?
I am very curious to hear your opinions on the topic.

sydthebeat

Thermally heavy constructions such as concrete and stone help to regulate temperatures a lot more in Mediterranean climates... ie they keep cooler in warm days and warmer in cold nights. This is because these materials have the ability to "soak up and store" heat a lot better than timber constructions.

In ireland we have a a much less temperature variations than spain, therefore this ability to regulate, while still preferable, is not as important.

Also, im going to assume that large scale softwood timbers are not readily available for prices similar to ireland.
coupled then with a tradition of stone / concrete building in iberia.