Goa Houzz: A Heritage Structure is Restored to a Riverside Bungalow
A dilapidated 19th century heritage building undergoes a luxurious metamorphosis
Houzz at a Glance
Location: Goa
Year built: Early 19th century; restored in 2011
Size: 641 square metres (6900 square feet); 6 bedrooms
Design architect: Raya Shankhwalker Architects
Interior design consultant: Deepa Shankhwalker
Photos by Harshan Thomson
“Our client had the desire to convert a dilapidated two-storey heritage structure into a luxury six-bedroom riverside residence. The design brief entailed retaining and restoring as much of the original heritage structure as possible and adding an extension constituted of indoor and outdoor spaces that take advantage of the proximity to the Mandovi River,” says Raya Shankhwalker of Raya Shankhwalker Architects.
Location: Goa
Year built: Early 19th century; restored in 2011
Size: 641 square metres (6900 square feet); 6 bedrooms
Design architect: Raya Shankhwalker Architects
Interior design consultant: Deepa Shankhwalker
Photos by Harshan Thomson
“Our client had the desire to convert a dilapidated two-storey heritage structure into a luxury six-bedroom riverside residence. The design brief entailed retaining and restoring as much of the original heritage structure as possible and adding an extension constituted of indoor and outdoor spaces that take advantage of the proximity to the Mandovi River,” says Raya Shankhwalker of Raya Shankhwalker Architects.
“What we love the most is the villa’s unassuming entrance, retained from the original structure. The exterior of the old house has been meticulously restored to its original form to maintain the character of the streetscape,” says Shankhwalker.
The south façade of the house abuts the main road and features the home’s main entrance. It has traditional small windows and doors and thus receives comparatively less natural light. It has been tailored to house spaces that are used less often.
Roof: Mangalore tiles
Roof: Mangalore tiles
The foundation of the house has been fortified from its erstwhile form. “The weak existing laterite stone masonry walls of the structure were strengthened to withstand seismic, wind and vehicular impact,” Shankhwalker notes.
Find a design professional on Houzz for your next home improvement
Find a design professional on Houzz for your next home improvement
The living room is located in the old part of the house. The space features an obvious polarity between classic and contemporary elements – with modern, inward-opening window shutters juxtaposed against the home’s original-style paned windows.
The polished wood-panelled ceiling is an ode to the home’s period architecture; almost all Goan houses built between the 18th and 20th centuries had a false ceiling of wood.
Interior terrazzo flooring: Bharat Flooring
The polished wood-panelled ceiling is an ode to the home’s period architecture; almost all Goan houses built between the 18th and 20th centuries had a false ceiling of wood.
Interior terrazzo flooring: Bharat Flooring
“Maintaining a balance between the traditional and the modern posed an interesting design challenge,” recalls Shankhwalker.
The dining room has a gabled roof and is characterised by sleek, modish furniture, an old-world wooden ceiling and colonial-inspired segmental arches.
Dining table is custom-made; chandelier: Imagination, Delhi
The dining room has a gabled roof and is characterised by sleek, modish furniture, an old-world wooden ceiling and colonial-inspired segmental arches.
Dining table is custom-made; chandelier: Imagination, Delhi
The verandah abutting the dining area serves as a long, semi-open space overlooking the tropical garden and the river beyond.
The old part of the house, shown here, features little glass.
“The home meets the comforts of day-to-day living while providing the luxuries of a weekend retreat. It unfolds gradually, increasing in transparency as one moves through the house, closer to the river,” says Shankhwalker.
“The home meets the comforts of day-to-day living while providing the luxuries of a weekend retreat. It unfolds gradually, increasing in transparency as one moves through the house, closer to the river,” says Shankhwalker.
An overhead metal-slatted bridge connects the house to the terrace on the roof of the extension, which allows a generous view of the Mandovi river.
“Rather than emulating the design style of the original villa, the extension follows a contemporary design language that affords a degree of lightness and modernity,” Shankhwalker notes.
Pavilion flooring: Madurai Gold Granite
Pavilion flooring: Madurai Gold Granite
The hallmark of the extension is the pavilion, an airy, semi-open structure with folding glass walls and a vast shaded canopy. It provides pleasing vistas of the river and access to the outdoor spaces and the infinity pool.
“In the garden, we used lush tropical plants such as heliconia, palms and fruit-bearing trees like breadfruit, banana and mango. We picked plants synonymous with the Goan landscape. A local horticulturist assisted us with the landscaping of the site,” says Shankhwalker.
“In the garden, we used lush tropical plants such as heliconia, palms and fruit-bearing trees like breadfruit, banana and mango. We picked plants synonymous with the Goan landscape. A local horticulturist assisted us with the landscaping of the site,” says Shankhwalker.
Here’s another aspect of the house, at the modern contemporary end of the range encompassed by the renovated 19th century structure.
Read more:
Delhi Houzz: Stone, Wood & a Simple Life Shine in This Earthy Bungalow
Thane Houzz: This Suburban Home Has What Most Mumbai Homes Crave
Tell us:
What did you like most about this house? Tell us in Comments below.
Read more:
Delhi Houzz: Stone, Wood & a Simple Life Shine in This Earthy Bungalow
Thane Houzz: This Suburban Home Has What Most Mumbai Homes Crave
Tell us:
What did you like most about this house? Tell us in Comments below.
