DLB, this is very interesting to me. There are a lot of similarities in your description to how we do things here at Brooks Post and Beam. Our emphasis is on efficiency and cost savings to the customer and admittedly to the bottom line!

It is no suprise to me that a germanic/swiss design should be efficient. I have to confess that I am an imposter and really don't know much other than how to build affordable timber frames by working long hours, being such an intellectual slouch I learn best from "picture books". Do you have any links or pictures of this style? Think of it as an "Introduction to Southern Germanic Timber Framing for Dummies".