Juergen Freund / A thatched house built in amongst the mangrove roots on stilts. Northern Palawan, Philippines, May 2009.

Juergen Freund / Bungalows of Misool Eco Resort as night falls. Misool, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, January 2010

Juergen Freund / Split-level shot of a shallow coral reef and house on stilts. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010

Juergen Freund / West Papuan house on stilts in coral reef shallows. Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010.

Juergen Freund / Snorkeler swimming underwater, split level, with Miniloc Island Resort in the background, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines, May 2009. Model released

Tim Laman / Dog walking along bridge walkway, and homes in Waifoy Village, Mayalibit Bay, Waigeo Island, West Papua, Indonesia, April 2007

Tim Laman / View of beach, and man fishing from a dugout canoe, at Yenbeser Village. Alfred Russel Wallace based himself in this village for several months in the 1850's. Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia. May 2007

Frederique Olivier / House on stilts in Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands, Melanesia, November 2008.

Juergen Freund / Coconut farmers' house on stilts in sea with a mound of discarded giant clam shells. Moromaho Island, Wakatobi, Sulawesi, Indonesia, November 2009.

Juergen Freund / Fish farm houses on stilts in sea at sunset. Under the house are live reef fish cages serving as a grow-out farm for the live reef fish trade. Northern Palawan, Philippines, April 2009.

Juergen Freund / Coconut farmer's house on stilts in sea with a mound of discarded giant clam shells. Moromaho Island, Wakatobi, Sulawesi, Indonesia, November 2009.

Juergen Freund / House on stilts at sunset. Under the house are live reef fish cages serving as a grow-out farm. Northern Palawan, Philippines, April 2009.

Juergen Freund / Split level of large hard coral in coral reef in the shallows with house on stilts. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010.

Juergen Freund / Split-level shot of a coral reef in the shallows with a house on stilts. North Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia, February 2010

Juergen Freund / Stilt house at sunset Arenas, Cagayancillo, Philippines

Juergen Freund / Bajau women look out of stilt house, Malaysia. Bajau people live in houses on stilts or are nomadic in houseboats. 2000

Roberto Rinaldi / Palafite house on Balambangan Island, Sabah Borneo.

Roberto Rinaldi / Palafitte house in French harbour, Roatan, Honduras.

Fred Bavendam / Traditional houses on stilts made by the sea gypsies, a seafaring culture of people, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Toby Sinclair / Guard post house built on stilts to avoid flooding Kaziranga NP Assam India