04-16-2009, 04:40 PM
As usual, JWFITZ is not afraid to think outside the box. There is a lot of logic to what he says. However I would counter that there are materials available to us now that were not traditionally available in the tropics. Reinforced concrete can be made earthquake resistant and has some other good properties. Steel roofing is great stuff and would allow a larger area to be under cover for a lesser part of the cost and labor involved in building the house than was true in generations past.