Goan Architectural Aesthetics

by Stay Mango Mango Hotels One of the reasons why Goa merits a revisit year after year is the plethora of things to see and do the place offers. Here, in this article, we set out to explore the architectural style of Goa’s public and private buildings and its evolution.

The traditional pre-Portuguese homes, like the traditional Indian ones, were inward looking and all the rooms opened into a verandah rather than the street. This style of building houses reflected the rather secluded role of women and the inward looking character of its inhabitants.

With the coming of Portuguese, trade in the region began to expand and sailors, who travelled around the world and brought back with them new ideas and elements of stylistic grace. One of these was the model for a new kind of building; one where the entrance door would occupy a prominent position and would feature a front yard or portico looking out into the streets. The large balconies had a seating area where men and women could both sit together and converse with the neighbours. The house porticos were sometimes ornamented with imposing looking columns and plinth which usually signified the stature of its owners. The new idea of openness and outward looking attitude manifest itself in the architecture of all the buildings built in Goa during this period.

The new Goan houses were not built for purely decorative purposes. On the contrary, these sturdy buildings, built to withstand high monsoon rainfall, could, by their distinctive design, communicate its location to homecoming sailors from a considerable distance. The elaborate design was therefore crucial in to help build a separate identity of the home and its inhabitants. Windows gradually became more decorative, ornate, and expressive. These homes incorporated elements of design and style of both Indian and western architectural tradition.

With the Portuguese also came the Catholic missionary, especially the Jesuit missionary and they built in Goa many beautiful Churches in Baroque architectural style. Many public buildings were also built in the neo-classical and gothic revival style of architecture but with the establishment of the rule of the British in India, many more such buildings were built in neo-classical and gothic style in the Presidency cities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. What is exceptional about Goa though is that is features the only example of Baroque architecture in India most notably the Church of our Lady Immaculate in Panjim, the capital city of Goa.

Goa is a wonderful state to explore as it has all the fascinations an explorer seeks. Finding accommodation in Goa will never be a problem throughout the year as there are many hotels in Goa which cater to tourists across all budget range and in every possible location.

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Created on Jul 13th 2018 02:49. Viewed 309 times.

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