There are some very high quality German self build companies that use timber frame and glass construction. HufHaus and Weber Haus are two but there are others.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/grand-designs/episode-gui...

> Revisit: Walton, 2008

> Kevin revisits David and Greta Iredale, who replaced their original house which they designed and built themselves with a German built, precision engineered Huf Haus.

> Esher, 2004

> Kevin McCloud follows a couple who have built houses before, but never on this scale. Their new 'Huf Haus' is designed and made in Germany but delivered for assembly in Surrey.

To quote wikipedia: Germany has several styles of timber framing, but probably the greatest number of half-timbered buildings in the world are to be found in Germany and in Alsace (France) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timber_framing#German_tradition...)

Not log cabins, but wood framed "Fachwerk" houses are everywhere in Germany, or at least Bavaria.

Here in Australia, a friend tells me of an expat German friend of his. When she visits people, she likes to shake the internal walls of the houses with her hands and (good naturedly) says "you guys can't build houses for shit". Which is true - Australian houses are generally flimsy, cheap stuff. :)