Timber frame is one of the earliest forms of skeleton and skin construction. It is the predecessor to balloon frame and platform frame construction. Typically used for housing, the structural frame for the house is made from rough timbers that function as the support. Between these supports is material that closes that space creating a structure that protects from the elements. In some cases this material also covers the structural timbers, but in many those are still meant to be a visible aesthetic for the structure. The 'look' of this design can be found in many contemporary homes, but is usually not structural.