Bass ackwards house

[Cal C.]

I am currently under contract for a house which is three sides brick and one side wood (the front).  Also, the chimney is at the front of the house.  I've included a picture but since you can't see the three brick sides it doesn't quite convey the depth of the weirdness.  There are two other similarly placed houses on the same street.  I have no idea what the builder wanted to accomplish by placing these houses this way.