[csb6]

A house can be aesthetically appealing and matched to its surroundings without being leaky or damp. A house that is ugly and out of place can also be leaky and damp (they often are because those architects often are also prioritizing form over function, but an ugly form instead of an appealing form).

[pclowes]

Yes, and those houses are by definition the traditional architectural vernacular of the area. Traditional architecture in each area evolves from survivor bias and navigating delicate trade-offs in the climate they are placed over long time frames.