A Comparative Analysis of Amphibious and Stilted Flood-Resilient Housing Systems: Lessons from the Socio-Technical Landscape of Assam

Abstract

The chronic flood crisis in Assam, exacerbated by geographical, climatic, and human factors , has proven traditional civil engineering solutions like embankments to be largely ineffective. This research presents a comparative analysis of two adaptive flood-resilient housing strategies: traditional stilted wet floodproofing and modern amphibious wet floodproofing.

The report finds that stilted systems, exemplified by the Mishing tribe's vernacular Chang Ghar, offer a highly practical and culturally integrated solution.⁴ These homes, built on stilts from locally available materials like bamboo and wood, are affordable (modernized versions costing approximately ₹60,000) , scalable for mass housing programs, and have high social acceptance.⁸ However, their static nature makes them vulnerable to floods that exceed the stilt height or are caused by high-velocity currents.

In contrast, amphibious architecture, which operates on the principle of buoyancy, allows a structure to float and rise with floodwaters, providing resilience against unpredictable inundation depths. While this modern engineering paradigm offers a flexible, high-performance solution, its significant barriers include prohibitive cost, reliance on specialized materials like fiberglass, and low social acceptance due to unfamiliarity.

The analysis concludes that neither system is a singular solution. The most viable and sustainable path for Assam is a tiered, hybrid approach. The report recommends expanding the use of modernized Chang Ghars for mass housing due to their affordability, cultural fit, and proven efficacy. Meanwhile, high-performance amphibious technology should be strategically deployed for critical community infrastructure like schools and emergency shelters, where their high cost can be justified by their crucial function during extreme flood events. This pragmatic framework leverages traditional wisdom while strategically integrating modern technology to build a more comprehensive and resilient defence against the escalating threat of flooding.