Goan Beauty

Introduction:

Goa is a tiny state in India. It has always been a tourist attraction and famous for it's beaches, cheap booze and tasty seafood. Recently, I've had the fortunate opportunity to visit Goa. This is a brief on architecture of goan houses. Here, when I say goan houses, I mean specifically the traditional goan houses.  The vibe of Goa starts with the houses.

Description: 

The houses there are mostly bungalows with independent verandahs. They are inspired by Portuguese houses because of the Indo-Portuguese era. The houses have such intricate detailing when it comes to design. Such elaborate ornamentation and attention to small things like window panes and door frames. The sloping roof with Mangalore tiles has become an advantageous theme. The best part about the houses is their colors. They have used such vibrant colors and the house looks like a magnificent piece of heaven just existing here on planet earth. If you use such colors in Pune for sure it'll look out of place but in Goa every house has a bright, bold color and it just makes sense. The color theme adds to the aesthetic of goa. Every house has a tiny garden of their own where you'll find loads of green plants with beautiful flowers. The vegetation outside the houses, on the roads is very obvious and lush green but the vegetation inside the compounds bring context to the house. This makes the interior and exterior sync with each other. The materials used are local (laterite, Mangalore tiles, wood, metal) and therefore suitable for the climate they bare. 

The interiors are also so ravishing and beautifully kept. The interior is decorated with wooden furniture, unique show pieces and elegant paintings. They have exclusively good color palette even when it comes to interiors. Colorful tiles for flooring and either a sloping roof or a false ceiling above. Ambient lighting to enhance the mood. The place looks as lively from inside as it does from outside. We got to experience the inside of the houses because lots of this exceptionally great houses are converted to cafes that serve scrumptious food. Goa in it's natural daylight is exceptionally impressive but there is no comparison to how sensational it is at evenings. When the sun has gone down and you can see the silhouette of these houses against the colorful sky. To watch the sunset while sitting in one of those cafes is something I might never forget. 

Personal Note: 

I so wish to have a goan house which is peach and Hudson blue in color. I would sit on my porch during rains and enjoy hot soups. Watch sunsets from my delicately curated windows, enjoy my garden in full bloom during spring and will binge watch shows in AC during summers. For someone staying in urban area, it feels like a luxury to have such an angelic house that literally looks, feels like paradise and best of all, minutes away from the beach. Goa is no doubt a tourist's favorite but the houses are especially designed so people can get lost in it's charm. Truly, visit goa for the beaches and everything else it is famous for but don't miss out on these goan beauties while you are there. 

By Isha Mutha

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