Wow. How interesting! Here in California, constructing brick homes just isn't safe, because bricks don't do well in earthquakes, so our homes are built with a wooden frame, and the foundations are built in a way that the house would 'sway' along with the earth during an earthquake. Earthquake zones need 'lightweight' homes. Greatly reduces the risk of a building collapsing during a tremor. Our newer homes are usually wooden frame, but concrete on the outside, so they look lovely. Its amazing how homes are built differently in different places, in accordance to the environment.