Vernacular architecture in Assam, India, is known for its seismic and weather-resistant characteristics. These underlying purposes contribute to shaping the spatial variations of traditional architecture. The paper investigates the evolution of habitat and their association in two typologies of houses in Assam—Assam-type house and Chang Ghar—to understand the distinctions of each type. Case examples are taken to analyse and compare the commonalities and distinctions over the other. It was found that one is an advanced and evolved version of the other in terms of the overall building structure, integration of materials and aspect of resilience. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.