he world has drastically changed, most of the things you can see now are high-rise buildings or sky scrapers and modern houses but in some parts of the globe there are still some people who live in their traditional houses.

Shelter is one of the basic needs of men in order to survive. People have developed their houses base on the availability of materials and its suitability to its location. Styles, structural designs and materials used vary in different places creating a house distinct from one another.

Here’s a list of unique houses from the different part of the globe. Many of these are still in existence and being use while some have not been in used and can only be seen in books or dioramas in museum.

Yurt or Jurte of the Mongols in Mongolia

Traditional Mongols are herders so their houses should be transferable. Their houses/tents are made of animal skins.

Ifugao’s houses in Mountain Provinces of Luzon

The Ifugao house is small but well constructed, standing upon four or more posts, which are sometimes quaintly carved, and are invariably provided with projecting shoulders to prevent rats and other small animals from gaining entrance into the house. You can see houses like these when you visit the Banawe Rice terraces in Ifugao.

Sampan or boathouse of the Chinese

A sampan is a relatively flat bottomed Chinese wooden boat from twelve to fifteen feet long. A sampan includes a small shelter on board, and is used as a permanent habitation on inland waters. Sometimes soil is being put on the roof for planting purposes. Due to scarcity of land and the rapid grow of China’s population many have opted to live on these boathouses or sampans.

Igloos of the Eskimos in Siberia, Alaska and others

Eskimo’s igloo is a shelter constructed from blocks of snow, generally in the form of a dome because there are no grasses and trees in this region. It has no window and if you’re going to go inside/out the house you have to crawl.

Tepees of Arapaho Indians

A tepee is a cone-shaped tent made with skins or bark, formerly used by some North American Indian tribes, especially in the mid-western plains.

Badjao’s (Tau-Laut or Sea Gypsies) stilt houses in Mindanao

Badjaos are sea dwellers and are good swimmers, divers and fishermen. Their houses are made of bamboos. They are well-known for diving pearl. It was this tribe who found the biggest pearl in the world with an estimate price of $60 M.

Wickiups of the Apache Indians

A wickiup is a small temporary structure normally constructed of brush and poles and usually conical or dome in shape.

Ivatan’s stone houses in Batanes

Batanes is situated on the so-called “typhoon belt” that’s why they have to build their houses that can endure numerous typhoons that hit the area every year. The rooftop is made of cogon grass and the walls are made of stones.

Adobe houses of Pueblo Indians

Houses of Pueblo Indians like the Hoppi and Zunni are made of adobe and built in several stories.

Wigwams of the Indians

A wigwam is an Indian lodge frequently having an oval or conical shape and covered with bark or hides. Most Indians are hunters, they move from one place to another.

Mangyan’s houses in Mindoro

Mangyans are one of the most primitive tribes in the Philippines. They are still, literally living like ancient men though some of them are already wearing modern clothing and some are already educated. A Mangyan’s house is typically occupied by two or more families. The house has only one room.

Bahay-kubo or Nipa Hut – the traditional Filipino house

The Bahay-kubo or Nipa hut is the national house of the Philippines but no longer the house of Filipinos. It had been replace by concretes and metal houses. Nipa huts can only be seen now in the hundreds resorts in the archipelago as cottages or rest houses. This house is made of bamboo and nipa or cogon for the roof. This type of house is cool and it doesn’t need air conditioner and is earthquake proof.

For related topics see

20 Amazingly Unique Architectural Designs of Houses From Around the World

10 Unique Houses From Around the World

Bizarre and Unique Architectural Designs of Houses of Worship

For more architecture articles see

The World’s Most Remarkable Palaces and Their Amazing Features

Best-Preserved and Surviving Roman Triumphal Arches

Famous Commemorative and Triumphal Arches in the World