INTRODUCTION

PORTUGUESE COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE

BVP College of Architecture, DEC 16

By Ar.Padma.S
History of Architecture III-UNIT 1
Portuguese: 1498 to 1961
PORTUGUESE: 1498 TO 1961

 Asia

 Portuguese Colonial
architecture in India
 Portuguese Colonial
Church of Santo António;
architecture in Sri Lanka b. 1498, Mozambique
St Francis Church (Chosen in 2010 the best colonial buliding of portuguese origin)
Brazilian first capital, Salvador was founded in 1549. In the mid of the eighteenth century was the
second largest city of the Portuguese empire, after only Lisbon.

1. Aerial view of the colonial district (Pelourinho)

Cathedral facade (In Lioz stone, quarried in Portugal (1660)
Cathedral interior
THE PORTUGUESE ARRIVAL IN GOA
 Rulers before Portuguese-
 Bahamani ruler
 Adil Shah of Bijapur
 Timoja (Vijaynagar fleet) contacted Afonso de
Albuquerque and convinced the Portuguese fleet to
attack and capture the islands of Goa.
 In 1505, the King of Portugal appointed Francisco
d'Almeida as the Viceroy in India. He was instructed to
build forts at Anjidiv and Cannanore
Forte_de_Anjediva
THE PORTUGUESE ARRIVAL IN GOA

 16th Century- city was walled with a gate that was

decorated for the arrival of new governors.
 In 1599- when the governor was Dom Francisco da
Gama arch was built at the river's edge
 displaying the name of the famous discoverer of the
sea route to India
vasco gate- Arch of Viceroy
LATE 15TH AND EARLY 16TH CENTURY-PORTUGUESE

 Break into trade, convert eastern people to

Christianity.
 Established fortified settlement at strategic points
along sea routes
 Built churches, monasteries, military bastions of
the forts
 Buildings became larger in scale, facade
ornamented with oriental as well as European
motifs.
Church of Our Lady of Divine Providence in the Convent of Saint Cajetan
Church of Our Lady of
Divine Providence in
the Convent of Saint
Cajetan flanked by
the Pius X Institute of
Pastoral Theology,
photographed by
Francis Rogers in
1964.
TYPE OF STRUCTURES

 Portuguese settlements fell into three main

categories, the factory, the fort and the city.
 Goa presented an irregular semicircular plan.

 Streets described more or less symmetrical and

concentric arcs centered on the down town area.
Drawing H93‘, showing the initial proposal made by the Goan commission for a new street layout
of Old Goa, containing avenues, squares and gardens
Topographic plan
showing future urban
arrangements — roads
and gardened spaces —
proposed by the Goan
commission in 1960
Saint Francis Xavier Square, located between the See Cathedral and the Basilica of Bom
Jesus, in the 1970s after the Estado da Índia became part of India, showing the
intervention proposed by the Goan commission. Image courtesy of the Archaeological
Survey of India, Goa Circle.
Basilica of Bom Jesus
 Baltazar da Silva Castro (1891–1967), an architect
with a vast experience in heritage activity in
Portugal

Arch of the Viceroys in 1959, after

the restoration by Baltazar Castro, Arch of the Viceroys in 1951,
photographed by the architect before the intervention of
Naguesha Pissurlencar Baltazar de Castro
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
 Buildings of Goa constructed with local laterite
stones set in lime mortar
 Walls plastered with same mortar
 Tiled roof made to rest on wooden trusses.
 Drawback-heavy showers, dampness, marine salt
caused seepage, decay in wood, damaged plaster,
paintings.
 Water found passage through crevices of big
windows provided in the high walls for access of
light to lit the deep dark interior.
Double storied houses
Small openings on ground floor
Large windows on the first floor
Later period single storied house inspired by Hindu
courtyard house evolved
Important elements like porch and
verandah evolved
Facade began to reveal Italian
features
Project by architect
Naguesha
Pissurlencar for the
facade of the Pius X
Institute of Pastoral
Theology.
INTERIORS

 No one coloured his house all

white as a mark of respect to
Churches
 Use of dramatic colur achieved
with vegetable and natural
dyes
 Solid colours are used for front
facades and interiors paler
colours.
HINDU GOA HOUSE

 Social customs left an important mark-inward looking

houses with small windows.
 Houses opened into courtyards and rarely onto streets
hindu house rectangular in plan, single storied, central
courtyard, tulsi vrindavan
 Central entrance has a verandah
 Rooms arranged around a central pillared courtyard
 Deva kood was room for prayers and rityals
 Goan Hindu houses do not show any Portuguese
influence.
Catholic houses were more outward
looking and ornamental
Covered porches and verandas facing
street
Large balconies had built in seating
Balconies bordered by ornamental
columns
Houses of rich landlords had high plinths
with grand staircases leading to front
door
DESIGN FACTORS
 The house design in Goa was affected by the following factors:
 Protecting oneself from the fierce monsoons was the basis of the
architectural form.
 The European lifestyle was encouraged in an attempt to separate
newly converted Goan Christians from their cultural roots
 they adopted a European outlook but did not cut themselves off
from their Indian roots completely. The resulting cultural fusion
affected the house design.
 Portuguese rule allowed Goans to travel abroad,
 when they returned they bought with them ideas and influences,
making the Goan house a mixture and adaptation of design
elements and influence from all over the world.
BASIC CONSTRUCTION OF A TYPICAL GOAN HOUSE

 The first step involves ―Digging of the Well‖

 The building materials used in Goa : Red laterite
found 50-70 m below the ground level
 it could be cut and dressed with ease and becomes
hardened on weathering thus improving with age.
 used in the construction of the walls, pathways, and
even pillars
CONSTRUCTION
 wood, iron and in limited amount, marble.
 Goa‘s forests offered its house builders bamboo,
coconut palm and hardwoods
 simple thatched roofs made from palm fronds and
bamboo frames gave way to the roofs covered with
hand crafted country tiles.
 But due to the fierce monsoons of Goa palm frond
thatching was unable to withstand the harsh weather.
 A hardwood framework covered by country tiles was a
perfect alternative
 plasters of the walls crystalline limestone is used
which is rich in Magnesium
 BALCAOS are porches with seats built into the sides
 a balcao is a wide veranda running along the front
of the house and occasionally along its sides and at
the back; seats are built into the sides where the
front entrance opens out on the street outside.
FRONT DOORS

 The front doors were flanked by columns or pilasters.

 in design, wider and larger than internal doors and
they were left open during the day to welcome guests
and shut only at night.
 Gothic arches over the doors were another feature that
served to exaggerate posture.
 These arches were also a logical extension of the
fashion to adapt the Gothic revival architectural style.
WINDOWS
 Large ornamental windows with stucco mouldings
open into verandas.
 their origins in similar mouldings in the windows of
Portuguese houses.
 These windows were actually the devices to help
sailors identify their homes at a distance as they
sailed in.
 windows gradually became more decorative,
ornate, and expressive
RAILINGS
 Railings were the most intricate embellishment in a Goan house.
 Pillars, piers and colours do not seem to be influenced by any other
style in particular, rather they confirm to a mixed bag of architectural
styles, cast iron railings were direct imports from British India.
 Ornamental railing often combined Greek key and Gothic motifs to
make up some of the most exclusive railings designs in the world.
 Floral motifs were added on it at the intersection of the wooden
strips.
 The wooden railings with turned bolsters were executed by Goan
craftsmen who often copied motifs from Hindu temples, the perfect
example of these railings can be seen outside the Tobacco House in
Calizz.
EAVES BOARDS

 Eaves boards are the gable ends and eaves of timber

roofs decorated with carved timber fascias.
 These eaves boards are used on the verge of Gables
where the coverings of roof extended over the wall.
 The plain edge is just nailed to the roof on the rafters.
 The planks are first sawn, an organic or geometric
design drawn on the plank and then the pattern is
drawn out.
 Not abashed about revealing their Hindu ancestry,
Goan Catholics often used motifs and symbols from
temples in their domestic architecture.
GOAN FLOOR TILES

 Tiles are a unique feature of Goan houses and at

Calizz the floors are made with a perfect blend of
Portuguese and Italian tiles that still look as
glowingly fresh as when they were first installed in
the main house of Dona Bertha as well as the
consultancies of the Lawyer and the doctor.
FALSE CEILINGS

 To protect the house from draughts and to cover the

tiled roof these ceilings were used and they gained
popularity in the 1700‘s.
 At the entrance of Dona Bertha‘s house there are
two sitting halls (known as Sal in Portuguese).
 Both the sitting halls have got a typical false ceiling
which is intricately carved by the Goan carpenters.
WALL PAINTINGS

 There were only few Goan families in Goa like Dona

bertha‘s which displayed the heritage of this
beautiful land known for creative sensibility by
decorating their walls with paintings on miniatures
on the walls which have today become the part of
the Goan heritage
FORTS
PORTUGUESE ARCHITECTURE- FORTS

Goa-Protected from land attack by 3 fortifications

 Fort Aguada on the coast of

 Fort Largo protected the mouth of river Zuari

 South bank of river protected by Marmagoa

Fort Aguada
 The name of the Fort
was derived from the
presence of many fresh
water springs which
were a first source of
drinking water for ships
arriving in Goa after a
along journey.

The fort has a four

storey Portuguese
lighthouse erected in
1864 and is the oldest
The Portuguese word, Aguada means water of its kind in Asia.

A part of the fort has

been transformed into
central jail.
PORTUGUESE SETTLEMENTS

 Velha, first capital of Portuguese India near river

Mandovi
 Church facing onto a square, with mansions and
villas arranged around minor piazzas, their windows
opening onto balconies with wrought iron railings.
 The square fort, isolated from main island by a
canal.
ROAD NETWORK

 A large street was the main street.

 Important commercial functions took place along it
and it connected a number of squares where
significant edifices were located
 The main square of Goa and the Senatorial Palace,
the Archbishop‘s Palace, and the Cathedral figured
prominently.
PANJIM-CAPITAL 19TH CENTURY

 Linear town with a grid plan laid out along the sea
front.
 Other towns established were Diu, Bassein, Daman,
Bombay, Surat
 Surat- British, Dutch and French built factories or
trading lodges in the 17th century
 East coast -river Hooghly and San Thome.
FORT

 Fort of Cabo -de-Rama: Canacona is famous for the

fort that has its origin in the pre-Portuguese period.
 It was subsequently developed by the Portuguese
after the latter acquired Canacona from the
Sondekar.
Cabo Raj Niwas
The official residence of the governor of Goa, known as "Raj Bhavan", is located at
the extreme end of a narrow cape jutting into the Arabian Sea
At one corner of the Raj Bhavan, there is a beautiful Chapel which is about 500
years old
At a small distance away from the Chapel, down on the slope, passing through
steps, is the Grotto, a place of worship.
ust outside the gates of Raj Bhavan, there is a 180-year-old cemetery, which is the
only remaining evidence of the presence of British forces in the Fortress.
area of the fort is 1,45,850 square mtrs.

planned in a zig-zag manner

the builders had to follow the contour line of the
land which penetrated into the deep sea.

The walls of the fort are about five mtrs. high and
1.60 to 1.75 mtr. thick with wall-walk all along
and are in
ashlar masonry

The fort is provided with an entrance which is

much more massive and intricate,
provided with guardrooms. It is also provided with
a strong heavy wooden door which
was kept closed guarded in times of danger and
at night.

The material, such as laterite stone, sand, lime

morter, etc. which was used for the
construction of the fort was of local origin.
FORT

One of the major impacts on the social habits of the

people of Canacona was the use of tobacco.
 In fact, tobacco gained rapid popularity since its
introduction in the Deccan by the Portuguese in
1508.
MARMAGOA FORT – SOUTH GOA

 The Marmagoa Fort is located in the northwestern

point of Salcette and guards the entrance to the
port of Vasco.
sprawled over 6
miles, built by the
Portuguese in 1624
solely to offer them
supremacy against
marine attacks
MARMAGOA FORT – SOUTH GOA

 There were two beautiful fountains.

 said to bob up from a gold mine and a Sulphur
mine.
 only structures that remain today are the chapel
and the fort wall.
 at one time it contained three magazines, a chapel,
five prisons and huge bulwarks
churches
RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS-CHURCHES

 To convert local population to Roman Catholicism

 Facades of buildings European prototypes

 accommodation for the worshippers constructed with

local materials and techniques.
 First church at Aguada-Goa

 First Christian shrine in India was dedicated to

S.Catherine.
 Originally constructed in mud, straw and palm leaves
CHURCHES

 The Church of S.Francis of Assisi, Goa

 Se Cathedral, Goa

 The Basilica of Bom Jesus

Church of S.Francis of Assisi, Goa
Church of S.Francis of Assisi, Goa
Church_of_St_Francis_of_Assisi__Goa
Church of S.Francis of Assisi, Goa
Church of S.Francis of Assisi, Goa
decorated… either with floral patterns, Christian art, or telling us the story
of Francis of Assisi
frescoes on the walls ceilings are painted with such intricate
patterns
St.Cajetan church
St.Cajetan church
The archway at the entrance is covered with paintings
As is the underside of the arch
St.Cajetan church
A chapel on one side
 The Basilica of Bom Jesus (Good Jesus),Old Goa
 Three storied Renaissance styled church was built
of plaster and laterite in1605
 It holds the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier.
The interior is built in a Mosaic-Corinthian style
and adorned with wood and gold leaf.
 The walls embrace old painting of saints as the
floor is laid with pure white marble.

The ornamented Interior view towards

entrance to the church. altar
BASILICA OF BOM JESUS

 The sacred 400 year old Christian pilgrimage Basilica

de Bom Jesus is located 9km from Panaji, the capital
of Goa.
 The church is named as Basilica de Bom Jesus since
‗Bom Jesus‘ is the name used for the infant Jesus.
 church is ornamented with marble flooring and inlaid
with precious stones. The church also holds paintings
with scenes taken from the life of St. Francis Xavier.
Basilica of Bom Jesus
Basilica of Bom Jesus
Basilica of Bom Jesus
BOM JESUS-1593-1603

 The basilica holds the mortal remains of St. Francis

Xavier ( Old Goa)
 one of the best examples of baroque architecture in
India.
 The floor is of marble inlaid with precious stones
Basilica of Bom Jesus Church empty corridor with
brick walls and arches in Panaji, Old Goa, India
NAVE
Mortal_Remains_of_St._Francis
_Xavier
BOM JESUS-1593-1603

 Facade-lower portion Classical and Baroque in the

upper region
 The three-storeyed facade is an exquisite
combination of Ionic, Doric and Corinthian Orders.
 Decorated with Italian sculptures and paintings
imported from Italy or Portugal
BOM JESUS-1593-1603
 The mausoleum was designed by the 17th-century
Florentine sculptor Giovanni Battista Foggini. It took ten
years to complete
 The Church is made of laterite and basalt. It is
Cruciform on plan.
 The flying buttresses on the northern side of the
Church are recent additions.
 As one enters, to the right is an alter of St. Anthony
and to the left is an exquisite carved statue of St.
Francis Xavier
SE CATHEDRAL
 The Se Cathedral was built to commemorate the
victory of the Portuguese under Afonso de
Albuquerque over a Muslim army, leading to the
capture of the city of Goa in 1510.
 Since the day of the victory happened to be on the
feast of Saint Catherine, the cathedral was
dedicated to her.
 It had two towers, but one collapsed in 1776 and
was never rebuilt
SE CATHEDRAL

 The exterior is Tuscan, whereas the interior

is Corinthian.
 The church is 250 feet (76 m) in length and 181
feet (55 m) in breadth

The architecture style of the

Se Cathedral is Portuguese-
Manueline. The exterior
is Tuscan, whereas the
interior is Corinthian.
Chapel of St. Catherine
Se Cathedral in Velha,Goa
the church front
use of the orders
generally pilasters
rarely engaged columns
crowned by an entablature
dividing the front into compartments, each framing a void, an
architectural motif, or sculptural device
 Se Cathedral, Velha Goa
• Tower houses a large bell known as
the "Golden Bell" on account of its
rich tone.
•The main altar is dedicated to
Catherine of Alexandria, and there are
several old paintings on either side of
it.
•There are six main panels, on which
scenes from the life of Saint
Catherine are carved.
OUR LADY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
CHURCH NORTH GOA

 placed on the hillside and just high above the Idalco

Palace built by Adil Shah
 Land around was swampy covered by the field of
paddy, coconuts groves and watery
 After the Golden Bell in Se Cathedral, this is second
bell which is large and heavy in weight and due to
this the whole pediment of the façade was
renovated and increased in the size.
Our Lady Of The Immaculate Conception
Our Lady Of The Immaculate Conception
Our Lady Of The Immaculate Conception
Our Lady Of The Immaculate Conception
 Church and Convent of Santa Monica

Chapel of St. Catherine

Church of Our Lady of Rosary
Portuguese colonial Church of Our Lady of Hope, Kochi, Kerala, India
RESIDENCES
 The interior of Goan -Portuguese houses consisted of elaborate
patterns created with tiles imported from Europe and a false
ceiling installed of wood.
 The walls are painted with bright colours contrasting to the earthy
coloured furniture.
 The walls were made out of mud or laterite stone and coloured
with vegetable and natural dyes.
 Gateposts and compound walls were craved with great detail.
 The Portuguese - Catholic houses faced the
street with unique large ornamental windows
opening onto verandas.
 Bold colours were painted on houses
constructing distinct identity, allowing the sailors
to recognize their houses from sea.
 The covered porches and verandas were
designed for socializing contrary to the Hindu
styled housing.
 Front doors were lined with columns, and
railings were popular in embellishment
Portuguese-style_courtyard_of_Basilica
DUTCH: 1605 TO 1825
 The dutch building usually have a structure features
massive teak beams.
 The upper floor is located in the front wing and can
be reached with a wooded staircase.
 This upper storey has a wooden floor. A long open
veranda runs along the length of each wing of the
building.
BASTION BUNGALOW
• Bastion Bungalow of Kerala is a famous tourist site in the fort of
Kochi.
• At present the Bastion Bungalow serves as the official seat of the
Sub-Collector.
• The structure of the Bastion Bungalow is spherical in type and has
tiled roof.
• The first floor verandah gives a unique view with a wooden portion in
the front.
• The Bastion Bungalow of the fort Kochi was the camp office and
residence of RDO.
OLD HARBOUR HOTEL
A 300 year-old building ,Built in the Dutch style of
architecture with hints of Portuguese influences, it
was the first hotel of old Cochin
High ceilings, arched porticos, period furniture and
works of art combine to create a tranquil oasis