In what type of buildings do the outer walls carry most of the load?

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Outer walls that carry most of the load are characteristic of unframed buildings, also known as load-bearing masonry structures. In these types of buildings, the exterior walls are designed to support the weight of the roof and floors. The structural integrity relies heavily on the strength and stability of the walls themselves, which distribute loads vertically down to the foundation.

In contrast, framed buildings typically rely on a framework of beams and columns to support the structure, enabling more flexibility in design and the use of different materials. Brick-joist buildings, while they may use load-bearing walls, also incorporate framing that alleviates some of the load from the walls. Wood frame buildings similarly depend on a skeletal structure, where the frame supports the load rather than the outer walls alone.

Therefore, unframed buildings are the correct answer, as their design prioritizes the outer walls in load-bearing capacity, while the other types of construction leverage a different distribution of structural support.

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