In Cambodia, there is a settlement located directly on the shores of Tonle Sap Lake. The settlement is known as Kampong Phluk. It sits about 30 kilometers from the city center of Siem Reap.
Kampong Phluk is famous for its remarkably tall building structures. The residents intentionally designed stilt houses to adapt to the lake's unpredictable and sudden water surges.
Adapting to the Hydrological Phenomena of Tonle Sap
Tonle Sap Lake features an unusual hydrological system. The lake's water currents naturally reverse direction depending on the seasonal cycle.
During the rainy season, the water volume of the Mekong River rises sharply. The massive overflow places heavy pressure on the Tonle Sap River. The river current reverses direction and flows back into Tonle Sap Lake. The phenomenon gradually accumulates water from the surrounding areas.
As a result, the size of Tonle Sap Lake expands drastically. The lake’s surface area and depth can surge several times beyond its normal levels.
The sudden rise in water volume inundates the surrounding land. The environmental phenomenons serve as the primary consideration for the residents of Kampong Phluk when designing their homes.
The inhabitants of Kampong Phluk prepare for the anticipated floods by building stilt houses. The wooden support pillars are constructed at heights ranging from six to ten meters.
The high stilt pillars ensure that the living quarters remain above high-water levels. The wooden structures are anchored deep into the lakebed soil to withstand strong water currents.
Daily Mobility Patterns from Dry to Rainy Seasons
The water level fluctuations of Tonle Sap Lake directly impact the daily mobility patterns of Kampong Phluk residents. The way people move around relies heavily on the water conditions surrounding the settlement.
During the dry season, the lake water recedes until the ground beneath the settlement dries up. The residents can easily walk between the wooden pillars around the space under their homes.
However, such conditions change gradually with the arrival of the rainy season. Rising waters slowly cover the open ground that makes the residents adjust their daily routines.
When the water level reaches its peak, all land access is completely submerged. Walking is no longer possible as the spaces beneath the houses are fully underwater.
Wooden boats, previously tied near the homes, become the primary mode of transportation. The residents rely on the boats for all mobility needs, from transporting fish catches to distributing daily necessities across the village.
The Functional Shift of Ground Spaces in Daily Life
The stilt architecture in Kampong Phluk serves as more than just flood protection. The ground spaces beneath the houses are utilized by residents as daily processing hubs and workspaces.
As a fishing community, the residents' primary livelihood is tied to fishing on Tonle Sap Lake. When the rainy season arrives, the expanding waters into nearby flooded forests become prime spots for casting nets from wooden boats.
The daily fish catches are brought back to the settlement for processing. During the dry season when the water recedes, the dry ground beneath the houses is used for drying and salting fish.
The open area under the buildings also serves as a space for assembling bamboo traps and repairing nets before fishermen head out again. The residents store fishing gear supplies and firewood in the shaded spots.
When high tides submerge the ground level once again, the function of the under-house space shifts into a boat mooring area. Fishermen tie their boat ropes to the support pillars to prevent them from drifting away in the current.
Mooring boats directly beneath the structures allows fishermen to transfer their daily catch straight up the wooden ladders and into the main living quarters.
