AMGER GOA

A 130-year-old Portuguese villa in Parra is resuscitated as a rich, earthy escape. 

- Radhika Tandon

As I sit in the wooden gazebo at the edge of Amger, the sky is dark with imminent rain. Wind ripples across the paddy field and a peacock struts into view. I sit up to capture the moment on camera when Jimmy, the dog, lopes towards the peacock. It takes off with an outraged cry to the safety of a mango tree beside the pool bar.

Tucked into the heart of sleepy Parra village in northern Goa, just a 30-minute drive from the new Mopa airport. Amger is more than just another restored heritage home. Painstakingly designed and curated over the last two years, it has been built on the bones of a 130-year-old Portuguese house, preserving its graceful history, and spirit while reinventing it with a modern, luxurious, yet earthy sensibility. Designers Arun and Alok Lalwani, along with a team that included architect Supriya Gandhi and biodiversity conservationist Pooja Lalwani, have poured thought and care into every aspect of the design. A big part of Amger's charm is the visual feast that it provides. The villa retains touches like its original tile roof, with wood and oyster shells from the old house's traditional windows, incorporated in the décor. At every turn quirky pieces of art and sculpture from around the world delight with discovery. A subtle palette of pale greens, whites, and blues, lots of natural fabrics and stone floors throughout create a soothing seaside vibe while custom-designed wicker lamps provide a dash of drama.