Regional variations

Everything goes pear shaped. The Engineer is having kittens concerning the structure of the upperfloors. He wants to build the whole house in reinforced concrete.

Global Village does not apply when it comes to the most essential of building materials. Plasterboard is ubiqutous, glass is universal, but bricks and mortar and all the variations which come under the general heading of masonry, or, what in a nutshell, you use to build a wall, seem to be an issue of identity and regional pride. The preference runs deep and beyond the mere appearance of a material.
I have, apparently, chosen a building material that is used in abondance in Alsace and beyond but not here. In the eyes of The Engineer it is completely inappropriate for our region and will only lead to court cases and gnashing of teeth.
There's a pregnant silence as if I had suggesting we build an igloo on the Cote d’Azur. I have a flash of inspiration and for one brief moment consider suggesting that instead we use straw bales and rammed earth with hand applied cowpat render. The natural mistrust of french building engineers faced with whimsical architects would only have been compounded by my dose of british humour. I beat a hasty retreat and suggest that we meet with the manufacturer in order to iron out any misgivings he might have. As I hang up the phone I'm already mentally doing sums on the likely extent of the contractors reaction to building the house completely in reinforced concrete. Oh la la !