Design-Essentialz's video: How to Design a Home With a Goan Vibe

How to Design a Home With a Goan Vibe The city of Goa is not only famous for its sun-kissed beaches, vivid colours, nightlife and sumptuous food but also for its rich cultural and architectural heritage. Goa was a Portuguese colony for around four and a half centuries, starting from the year 1510 till 1961, when it was liberated by the Indian military. During this period, the Portuguese brought with them many cultural and aesthetic influences from Europe and other places that they visited, to create a unique architectural style known as the ‘Indo-Portuguese’ style of architecture which is prominent in the homes of Old Goa. Although this style of architecture has diminished and given way to modern homes, some design elements are still a favourite in new home designs. Take a look at some key design elements you can use to capture the essence of the homes of Old Goa. 1. Typical Goan architectural features The homes of Old Goa can be broadly classified into homes of Portuguese origin and homes of Indian or Hindu origin. You can choose one of these styles, to start with. The homes of Portuguese origin are often two-storeyed, they face the street and include a large veranda or an entrance porch that is locally known as the balcao. The porch served as a sitting area and also offered protection to the home from the harsh sunlight and heavy rain. The homes of Indian or Hindu origin are inward-looking and were planned around the traditional courtyards. They have small windows, a measure to protect the privacy of women in earlier times. 2. Paint the façade in bright colours The façades of traditional Goan homes were painted in bright colours like yellow, bright blue, peach and so on. These colours were achieved with the use of vegetable and natural dyes in earlier times. Additionally, the façades of Goan houses are elaborately detailed with design elements like stucco mouldings around windows and intricate railing designs in cast iron. Note: Only the churches and other religious buildings of Goa were allowed to paint their facades in white, as the colour symbolised purity. 3. Plan your home around courtyards Introduce courtyards within the design of the home to make an inside-outside connection, and surround it with arches and pillars, which are typical to Goan homes of Hindu origin. One can design the home with sloping clay-tiled roofs that are set on a framework of wooden joists and rafters, as they are another prominent feature of Goan homes. Heritage tiles add to the classic look of the space. 5. Go for patterned floors The floors of traditional Goan homes stand out with the use of brightly coloured cement tiles. To bring in a similar old-world charm into your home, incorporate patterned floors.