Rooms with a view: Southeast Asia’s traditional stilt houses

Several decades ago, the primary forms of dwelling throughout Southeast Asia were simple houses standing on stilts. These traditional houses were often built high off the ground to cope with the tropical climate.

The elevated design offered early settlers protection from the rising waters during the monsoon, and also provided shade and natural ventilation. The use of bamboo and local wood varieties was not only for aesthetic purposes but also for much-needed flexibility and strength.

But while traditional stilt houses are still found in flood-prone areas in the region, they are gradually disappearing as Southeast Asians now prefer to build houses following modern and western designs.

According to architect Vance Cruz, traditional Southeast Asian architecture has a rich history. “These traditional houses were built according to local geography, climate, and culture, while also taking into consideration the basic needs of the community.

Our hot, humid, and rainy climate influenced the choice of building materials, construction techniques, and building forms. Sustainable and locally-sourced building materials, such as bamboo and thatch, were commonly used,” he says.

Thailand’s traditional stilt houses, like other stilt houses in the region, were often built by the river, facing the water rather than the road. These were usually made of unpainted wood or bamboo.

“Larger versions of this type of houses have three or more rooms, each affording a good view of the surroundings. A common feature of this type of traditional Thai house is a raised terrace that sometimes doubles as the living room,” says Nui, who hails from Southern Thailand.

According to her, only a few plants are placed directly under the house. “The area is reserved for storage or keeping livestock and other animals,” she explains.

During the rainy or wet season, the southern parts of Thailand are often flooded and houses of this type are designed to cope with this kind of weather.

The main characteristics of the Thai stilt houses include a concave roof, wooden trapezoidal walls, and narrow windows, with the entire structure built above wooden posts more than two meters high.

“Traditional Southeast Asian architecture has a great range of creativity and style that reflects the unique culture, traditions, and environmental conditions of each region,” architect Cruz says.

The Thai traditional stilt houses, for instance, clearly show strong Buddhist influences through geometric shapes and decorative elements.

Meanwhile, the features of the stilt houses in Myanmar show designs influenced by environmental conditions, such as flooding and cyclones in the Andaman Sea.

“Regardless of the differences, they all share a common goal of providing affordable, sustainable and liveable housing solutions for local communities,” he noted.

In Indonesia, the most famous stilt houses are those of the Dayak in Borneo, the Minangkabau and Batak of Sumatra, and the Toraja of Sulawesi.

“The traditional Balinese house is designed to promote harmony between humans, nature, and the divine. It features open living spaces, intricate carvings, and a central courtyard that serves as a gathering place for family and friends,” says Putri, an architecture student in Jakarta.

The traditional houses of the Iban people in Malaysia are also built on stilts and can accommodate up to 20 families, fostering a culture of social cohesion and support, as well as sharing resources and responsibilities.

“Traditional Malay houses, incorporating Malay motifs and patterns, were designed to withstand the hot climate, and elevated on stilts to avoid flooding,” a local resident tells Thai PBS World.

Meanwhile, stilt houses are the postcard image of rural Vietnam. Its residents are mostly minority ethnic groups.

In the southern Philippines, stilt houses serve as a vibrant snapshot of history and culture. “These elevated homes have been around for centuries, serving as proof of our creativity, resilience and adaptability, even before colonization,” a Filipino historian notes.

“At the beginning of the 20th century, however, colonialism and western influences brought dramatic changes in the architectural landscape of the countries in the region. While some were able to retain traditional cultural styles, the infusion of western concepts and designs changed architectural expressions.”

Traditional Southeast Asian architecture forms a significant part of the region’s unique heritage. For instance, in countries like Cambodia and parts of Indonesia and the Philippines, there's a unique cultural tradition of physically moving entire houses.

This practice is most common in rural areas where traditional wooden houses are built on stilts. When a family decides to relocate, rather than abandoning the house, they mobilize the entire community to help lift and carry the house to its new location.

“These, however, are often neglected as government attention is usually focused on those of national and international significance,” architect Cruz laments.

“The construction of these types of houses is currently dwindling due to the changing environment and socio-economic conditions. Since these traditional stilt houses were built using local materials, most people nowadays do not think they will last in the tropical environment."

“As Southeast Asia continues to face the challenges of climate change, there should be renewed interest in the principles of sustainable design and old-folk wisdom, represented by the elevated design of the stilt houses,” he says.

(This story is part of a series about the vanishing cultural traditions in Southeast Asia.)