OK I will add my "10 pennorth" for what its worth!!
I cant really say yet if I have a framing philosophy as such being a very keen raw beginner, although I would say that what attracted me to the notion of building frames was that it was a long established traditional method which had almost died out. I feel quite in tune with Mr Sobons aproach to treating framing tradition with respect and making changes or developements only cautiously; mind you being from the UK I feel more at home with scribe method rather than square rule. I like the idea of maintaining and passing on a good tradition like framing; I am proud of the English tradition in frame building and its wider contribution to framing generally; I like to see frames and want to build some new ones. I like using hand tools I dont care for dust and fumes so much-until I read Mr Sobon's books I thought I was out of order to think like that in this neo plastic building age! At one time I thought green tree hugger eco people were nut cases, now I'm not so sure, the eco building thing is growing and gaining wider acceptance I think. Theres green eco builders merchants here now, inconceivable only a few years ago. Eco friendly paints insulation plaster etc not to mention a new generation of recycled materials coming on to the market.
I agree totally with gabel about using local materials. It leads to very distinct and varied (genuinely diverse) regional vernacular styles that are in tune with nature. It also leads to architectural forms which are ideally suited to the climatic conditions to be found in each region (eg steep roof pitches in Northern Europe to resist snow better)
As regards insulation/heat etc in days gone by. Dont forget that folks spent a lot less time at home, 12 or 14 hours out, working the agriculture or the industry or whatever, lots less leisure time as we think of it nowadys. Also I am convinced folks were hardier then, didnt NEED to be bathed in warm dry air all day and/or night, shower twice a day, wear clean clothes every day etc. If you had to carry the water in you didnt waste any!! They devised ways to economise on fuel consumtion. for instance box beds as used in Yorkshire northern Scotland (and scandinavia I believe, possibly other places) where the beds were built into a small wooden enclosure with a door to keep out draughts on a night (a bit tricky if you ate too many beans though!) They also made use of the body heat from animals kept in byres below the living area; They put huge granite lintels over the fireplace and blocks at the side to store and radiate heat generated by the fire, they used the sides of the inglenook as a seating area with built in settles (benches) or stools. They used earth as roof insulation in Switerland also I believe. Also of course if it was nippy they put on an extra jersey instead of turn the thermostat up a notch, much cheaper! (or split some logs or whatever they were active people then not so obese and diabetic and so on)
Just a few thoughts
