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• Goais India's smallest state in terms of

area and the fourth smallest in terms of
population.
• Located on the west coast of India in the
regionknownastheKonkan,it isboundedby
thestateofMaharashtratothenorth,andby
Karnatakato theeastandsouth,while the
ArabianSeaformsitswesterncoast.
• Thehistoric city ofMargaostill exhibitsthecultural influenceofthePortuguese,who
first landedintheearly16thcenturyasmerchantsandconqueredit soonthereafter.
• Goais aformer Portuguese colony, the Portuguese overseas territory of Portuguese
India existedfor about450yearsuntilit wasannexedbyIndia in 1961Renownedfor its
beaches,placesofworshipandworldheritagearchitecture.
• Goaisvisitedbyhundredsofthousandsofinternationalanddomestictouristseach year.
Italsohasrichfloraandfauna,owingtoitslocationontheWesternGhatsrange.
Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 2
 ARCHITECTUREOFGOA
• Thearchitecture of Goais acombination of Indian,
IslamicandPortuguesestyles.
• SincethePortugueseruledfor fourcenturies,many
churchesandhousesbearastriking elementof the
Portuguesestyleofarchitecture.
• Goan Hindu houses do not show any Portuguese
influence,thoughthemoderntemple architecture is
an amalgam of original Goan temple style with
Dravidian, Hemadpanthi, Islamic, and Portuguese
architecture.
• TheoriginalGoantemplearchitecturefellintodisuse
as the templesweredemolishedbythe Portuguese
andthe Sthapati knownas Thavayi in Konkaniwere
converted to Christianity though the wooden work
andtheKavimuralscanstill beseen.
Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 3
DESIGN INFLUENCES
Thefollowingfactors affectedhousedesigninGoa:
• Protectingoneselffromthefierce monsoonswasthebasisofarchitecturalform.

• Portugueserule alowedGoanstotravel abroad;whentheyreturnedtheybrought

with themideas and influences from other countries. The Goanmaster builders
executed these ideas using local building materials, making the Goan house a
mixtureandadaptationofdesignelementsandinfluencesfromallovertheworld.

• ThearchitecturalstyleofPortuguese-builtchurches.

• TheEuropeanlifestyle wasencouragedin anattempttoseparatenewly converted

GoanChristiansfromtheirculturalroots.TheyadoptedaEuropeanoutlookbutdid
notcutthemselvesofffromtheirIndianrootscompletely.Theresultingcultural

fusionaffectedthehousedesign.
Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 4
• The traditional pre-Portuguese homes
wereinward-lookingwithsmall windows;
this reflected the secluded role of
women.
• Thehousesopenedinto courtyards, and
rarelyopenedontostreets.
• The Catholic houses built or refurbish
between the middle of the 18thand the
20th centuries were more outward- • These balcões are bordered by
looking and ornamental, with balcões ornamental columns that sometimes
(covered porches) and verandas facing continuedalongthestepsandaddedto
thestreet. thestatureofthehouse.
• The large balcões had built-in seating, • This, together with the plinth, which
opentothestreet,wheremenand usually indicated the status of the
womencouldsit togetherand‘seeandbe owners.Thehousesofrich landlords had
seen’,chatwiththeir neighbours,or highplinthswithgrandstaircases
justenjoytheeveningbreeze. leadingtothefront dooror balcão.
Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 5
• The traditional pre-Portuguese homes
wereinward-lookingwithsmall windows;
this reflected the secluded role of
women.
• Thehousesopenedinto courtyards, and
rarelyopenedontostreets.
• The Catholic houses built or refurbish
between the middle of the 18thand the
20th centuries were more outward- • These balcões are bordered by
looking and ornamental, with balcões ornamental columns that sometimes
(covered porches) and verandas facing continuedalongthestepsandaddedto
thestreet. thestatureofthehouse.
• The large balcões had built-in seating, • This, together with the plinth, which
opentothestreet,wheremenand usually indicated the status of the
womencouldsittogetherand‘seeandbe owners.Thehousesofrichlandlords had
seen’, chatwiththeirneighbours,or just high plinths with grand staircases
enjoytheeveningbreeze. leadingtothefrontdooror balcão.
Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 6
• BALCAOS are porches with seats
builtintothesides.
• Balcaosarecommonlyfoundin Goan
housesandgenerally understoodto
bedatingfromthe
timeGoacameunderPortuguese
rule,andintheyearsafter.

Alternately, a balcao is a wide veranda

runningalongthefront of thehouseand
occasionally along its sides and at the
back;seatsarebuilt intothesideswhere
thefrontentrance opensoutonthe street
outside.
Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 7
 WINDOWS
• Largeornamentalwindowswith
stucco mouldings open onto
verandas.
• These may appear purely
decorative, but have their
origins in similar mouldings in
the windows of Portuguese
houses.
• The design is therefore an
import but serves a similar
purpose in Goa: to help
construct the identity of the
home.
• Windowsgraduallybecamemore
decorative, ornate, and
expressive.
Verna c ula rArc hitec ture O f Go a 8
• Front doors were flanked bycolumns
orpilasters.
• Railings were the most intricate
embelishmentinaGoanhouse.
• Pillars,piers,andcoloursdonotseem
to be influenced by any style in
particular; rather they conform to a
rathermixedarchitecturalstyles.

Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 9

 The interiors
have a high
ceiling

Well

Typical rooster
motifs on rooftops

The Typical courtyard

Kothar - Store room
Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 10
 A Typical goan street abutted both sides by houses
Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 11
 Entrances to Goan Houses

Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 12

 Types of Windows in Goan Houses

Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 13

Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 14
 GOANHOUSES

HINDUHOUSES
• Style:IndoPortugueseStyle
• Internalcourtyardwithroomsbuilt
aroundit.
• Materials:BakedClaytiles,Laterite
• WindowsWithWoodenFrames
CHRISTIANHOUSES
• Porch(balcao),
• TallEuropeanstylecolumns
• BuildingMaterials:Lateritestones,
Localbricks &Mangaloretiles.

Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 15

• Ancestral Hindu houses in the town are plain,
closed structures whichconceal the illustrious
traditionoftheinhabitants.
• Thegoan Hindu Architectural style is different
fromthePortuguese-influencedstyle.
• Hinduhouseshavelittle colonialinfluence.
• Astep or two lead into quiet entrances, with
smallwindowsopeningoutontothestreet.
• Thehouserevealsits beautyonly indoors –
rooms converge on to the courtyard with
‘Chowkis’whichis thecentreoffamily activity;
aprotectiveandprivatespace.
• Column and their brackets are pre-Portugese
features that depict the progression of the
architectural style in ornateness and
refinement. 'The Chowki'
Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 16
TRADITIONAL HINDU HOUSE
• Rectangularin plan
• Singlestorey
• Centralcourtyardwithtulsimaadam
• Centralentrancehasaverandah
• The rooms are arranged around a
centralpillaredcourtyard

A typical Hindu
home is low-scaled
with a low plinth, a
small seating porch
with short bulbous
columns and a loft
like upper floor with
windows.
Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 17
Goantraditional Hinduhouseshave
thefollowingfeatures:
• AcourtyardcalledasRajangan,
whereaTulsiVrindavanisseen.
• Chowki- space next to the
courtyard,wherefamily activities
takeplace–internal verandah

• Devakood-aplacefor prayers
andtherrituals.
• A hall specially meant for
celebratingGaneshotsav. • Raanchikood-akitchenwithadoorwhichis
• Soppo-spaceusedforrelaxing. calledMagildaar
• Saal-ahall • Balantinkood-A roomspecialfor pregnantand
• Kothar-storeroom nursingmothers.
• Vasri-DiningHall • Manne-Bathroomslocatednexttothewell.
• Gotho-Goshala Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Go a18
 Traditional Kitchen
Traditional Hindu
A typical Village Hindu House motifs on jalis

Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Go19 a

USEOFCOLOUR
• Dramatic and startling colour—
initially achieved with vegetable and
naturaldyes—playsanimportant role
inGoanarchitecture.
• Colour was decorative and
used purelytocreatea
sensation
CORNICES
• Countrytiles usedasacorbelarea
featurepeculiar toGoa.
• Theeffect achievedis aesthetically
pleasing,givingtheroofprojectiona
solid, mouldedappearance.

INTERIORS
• Paintingonwalls
• Walsuptodadoheightfinishedwith
glazedtiles
• Floral patternbelowthecornice Floral painted tiles adorn the
doorways to the houses

Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 2

0
CHRISTIAN HOUSES

• The Portuguese imprint on the already

strongarchitecturalidentityofGoacreated
a unique amalgam, unmatched in edifices
acrosstheworld.
• The arrival of the Portuguese brought
foreign influences and opportunities for
Goanstotravel.
• The contours and colours of the houses
begantochange.
• Goans who embraced Christianity sought
new identities, and their houses were one
facetofculturalexpression.
• Houses acquired ‘balcaos’ (sit-outs facing
the street) with built-in seating at the
entranceofthehouses.
Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 21
• Columnslinethebalcaos,andlarge,
ornamental windows with varying
designs helped sailors spot their
housesastheysailedintoport.
• The rich tropical colours of these
edifices add a wealth of character to
Goanarchitecture.
• Only churches and chapels were
alowedtoremain white,andthelaw
required other buildings to sporta
colour.
• Thehousesthuswerepainteddeep
ochre,sapphireandclaret.
• The facade of most houses was
symmetrical with the entrance door
occupyingtheplaceof honour.
Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa
• Gateways to the houses were lofty and
elegant in the 18th century later they
werereplacedbytoweringgateways.
• Railings were the most intricate
embelishmentinaGoanhouse.
• Pillars, piers andcolours donotseemto
beinfluencedbyanystyleinparticular.
• Windows gradually become
more decorative,ornateand
expressive.
• Almostall Goanhouseshaveafalse
ceiling ofwood.
• TheKitcheninGoanhousewasatthe
fartherestendofthehouse.
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• ThebroadelementsofGoanhousesresultformamixtureofIndianandPortuguese styles.
• Homes that are Portuguese in origin are usually two-storeyed and façade oriented;
Whereasthose of Indian origin are single-storeyed with a traditional courtyard based
orientation.
• Between the two also, there is wonderful mixing and marrying of ideas, resulting in
nuanced,hybrid architecturethatis bothimpressiveandinspiring-forexamplethetwo-
storeyed house in which the top story is functional while the ground floor is merely
ornamental.
• ItwasPortuguesecustomtosegregatethelowerstoreyofthehousefor thehousehold
staffandretainers.
• Sincein theHinduhometheservantquarters weretypically locatedat thebackof the
house, this bottom storey became shorter, until it reduced to an ornamental high-
platformintime,adornedwithdecorativearches,pilastersandcolonettes.

Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 23

• TheupperclassGoanaristocratssoughttoemulate
andevensurpassthegrandeuroftheresidencesof
theirPortuguesecounterparts.
• Theexamplesofthistrendaremany-Thepractice of
building grand staircases in the entrance halls,
manywindowedfacades;busts of classical
Renaissance figures in the pediments of façade
windows,granddancehalls asafocal pointof the Baroque style staircase
home.
• Otherinterestinganduniqueaspectsof
the houses one will encounter in the
state are the use of locally available
buildingmaterialsuchaslateritestone,
which make for sturdy and durable
structures.
Many windowed Facades
Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 24
• Additionally, in many homes, readily available
mother-of-pearl is used to line window
shutters.
• The window shutters are particularly
enchanting.
• In the early days of Portuguese rule, only
churchesandother religious structures were
permittedtousewhitetocolortheirexteriors.
• The domestic residential structures
automatically adopted bold and sensational
colors subsequently achieved with the use of
vegetableandnaturaldyesinthepast.

House with a High-seat

Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 25
Window shutters lined with
pearlescent capiz shells & mother
of pearl. Interior of the Christian House – use
of arches–Portuguese influence
Verna c ula r Arc hitec ture O f Goa 26