Abstract
In an era marked by rapid advances in energy, climate, and global inequality, Loktak Lake in the State of Manipur (India) exemplifies the delicate balance between water governance and energy systems, as well as between local productive and dwelling practices. This study explores how adapting traditional practices in water landscapes can guide design configurations of sustainable amphibious ecosystems, proposing the ‘Loktak model’ as a post-growth paradigm. The Lake’s ecological uniqueness stems from its floating biomass islands and a seasonal economy rooted in fishing and agriculture. Despite the construction of imposed infrastructures such as the Ithai Dam – which disrupted natural regimes and caused environmental harm – local communities have responded with adaptive measures, notably in regenerating the floating islands known as Athapum Phumdi. Through multi-scalar mappings and socio-spatial analyses, the Lake is revealed as a hydro-cultural landscape where ‘floating circularity’ orchestrates hybrid infrastructures, water, energy, and labour. In this light, Loktak serves as a natural regulatory mechanism capable of inspiring projects in other amphibious settings and of guiding, in an unprecedented manner, a new approach within territorial studies.