Some may know that in Europe they still use a full size frame (300 mm tall) in horizontal boxes. When I learned beekeeping from my father we used this size frame in 8 frame boxes, plus 145 mm tall frames for supers (half frame), so we could put 2 supers on top and be able to place in them a full frame with no extra space at the bottom. The bees used to make a crown of honey over the brood in the full frame and since the brood never got over the crown, the colonies were smaller in size (or strength) than the production colonies we see here. So slowly, my father went to 230 mm frames (deep size) to be able to expand the colonies. Nowadays he is converting to 145 mm only (shallows) so he can lift the boxes easier. I have seen custom boxes that are square and use square frames (a bit shorter and taller than the deep frames) so they can winter with the frames parallel to the entrance, but switch them back to standard orientation during the warm season. The bees don't care about the frame size, they adapt to work with anything, it's all for the beekeeper's mood or strength to choose which size he uses.