Traditional Amazon stilt houses known as "palafitas" are being presented as an innovative solution to combat rising sea levels and coastal flooding caused by climate change. These elevated wooden structures, commonly found throughout the marshy regions of the Amazon including the Pantanal wetlands, offer a sustainable approach to housing that can withstand marine submersion and flooding.
The innovative housing model was developed through a collaborative effort between France and Brazil, resulting in a prototype "Casa Palafitas" constructed on the campus of the Federal University of Pará. This project brought together students from the University of Paris-Belleville, architecture and urban planning students from Pará, along with local craftsmen and architects. The completed model, finalized in October 2025, was prominently featured during COP 30 presentations.
"Palafitas are extremely simple wooden constructions built on stilts," explains André Barrat, president of the Order of Architects of French Guiana. "This is a habitat that resists marine submersion and can be positioned in flood-prone areas. We must overcome rising waters, which is a consequence of global warming, as well as coastal erosion." The structures primarily utilize wood combined with bio-sourced filling materials such as wassaï resin, which when compacted provides both acoustic and thermal insulation properties for ceilings and facades.
The project aims to valorize regional expertise and traditional building knowledge. When the model was presented at the French Alliance in Belém, Brazilian architect Silvana Lima expressed strong enthusiasm for the concept. "I loved it. I found it very important that we bring the concept of habitat based on palafitas, as a very ribeirinha essence of the Amazon region," she said, referring to the peoples who live along riverbanks. Lima emphasized the importance of understanding local knowledge, noting that "our climate is Amazonian: lots of heat, lots of rain, lots of humidity."
The architects from French Guiana who worked on this model plan to present it to local communities as a tool to combat substandard housing conditions. "The idea is to offer it to the population for self-construction," Barrat explained. This approach would make the sustainable housing solution accessible to communities while preserving traditional building techniques and promoting climate resilience in flood-prone areas.
