In recent years, floods and climate-induced cataclysms have caused significant annual damage to livelihoods worldwide, with limited research on their vulnerability, impact, resilience, and long-term adaptation strategies in developing countries. In the South Indian State of Kerala, the major flood in 2018 caused immense economic losses in the low-lying and densely populated Alappuzha District. While the region has a heightened risk of periodic flooding, the considerable destruction of buildings and infrastructure highlights the need for effective solutions for flood resilience in the existing housing stock and new construction. In this context, this study examines flood resilience in the built environment of Alappuzha, focusing on flood vulnerability, building practices, and potential approaches suitable for the region that the current literature does not address. This study employs a qualitative research approach to understand current trends in adaptation strategies and the influencing socioeconomic and cultural factors. The study employs various data collection methods, including interviews, site observations, and content analyses of existing government reports, journal articles, and popular media sources. The findings indicate that although there are three types of established flood resilience techniques (static elevated, floating, and amphibious structures), their suitability for the low-lying areas of Alappuzha depends on the geographic, climatic, socioeconomic, and cultural contexts. Stilted houses have become the most common construction method, in response to climatic and socioeconomic conditions. In addition, the findings highlight the bounce-forth resilience quality of amphibious building techniques and suggest further exploration by integrating them with local technologies and materials. The study concludes that a comprehensive approach is needed that integrates traditional and modern knowledge and practices in disaster risk reduction and management to enhance the resilience of the built environment to flooding.

Mosque architecture often exhibits distinct identities, elements, and forms associated with geographical locations or dynastic patronage in the Islamic world. However, there has been a significant paradigm shift in mosque architecture over the past century, with external factors influencing the construction and sustainability of contemporary mosques. This study examines the evolution of mosque architecture in Nigeria, concentrating on the Ilorin Central Mosque as a pivotal case study connecting the northern and southern regions. The study employs a qualitative research methodology, utilizing descriptive approach, historical research, architectural analysis, and field observations to examine the architectural language, urban context, and socio-historical factors shaping the mosque’s development. Although geographical settings have always influenced traditional religious designs in Nigeria, the findings reveal a transformation from simple mud structures to grand modern edifices. The Ilorin Central Mosque exemplifies this shift, with its Ottoman-inspired domes and minarets contrasting with the traditional vernacular mosques of the 19th century. The study highlights the challenges of globalization, sustainability, foreign architectural influences, and the tension between local identity and contemporary trends in mosque architecture. The study concludes by arguing that future mosques must reintegrate regionalism, local materials, and climate-responsive principles into contemporary aesthetics while considering the quintessential principles of the Prophet’s Mosque and the religious and social significance of mosques within the urban fabric. The Ilorin Central Mosque exemplifies a microcosm of the transformations in Nigerian mosque architecture, highlighting the necessity of a balanced approach that embraces both cultural heritage and contemporary needs.