Exactly.
There is no actual need of 60 cm, which is only a "sane" width to allow inspection, the external wall and "air chamber" can be much smaller, see as an example:
http://docplayer.it/docs-images/41/9277133/images/page_8.jpg
and if there is not enough space for the above (25-30 cm) a wall of porous/hollow bricks (thickness 10-15 cm) will still do better than waterproof membrane alone.
>In most places, but especially SF, there isnt space for an extra meter on each side of the houses
I know, and I am not at all saying that it is a universal solution, and - besides - it costs a lot more than plainly applying to the house foundation and earthed walls this or that kind of non permeable membrane (there are bitumen based, PVC based, synthetical/chemical liquid compounds, bentonite, etc.).
Still if you are building a house and have the needed space, it is money well spent, I have seen tens or hundreds of recently built houses using membranes notwithstanding the availability of space (because it is easier and cheaper) with humidity/mould problems that cannot simply be resolved without mechanical ventilation (besides when needed repairing the waterproof layee(s)).