Anatomy of a Goan Home

Goan homes exude a charm which can never be matched by the multi-stories which seem to be the trend of the hour. Appreciate the uniqueness of Goan homes through this article.

- Dr. Kuheli Bhattacharya

THERE is something very regal and yet whimsical about a Goan home, very European in its look, and yet very Indian, with the use of Mangalorean tiles on its sloping roofs. It is one of the most startling features in a Goan Landscape, especially for someone who hasn’t grown up seeing Goan homes. Right at the outset is my disclaimer that I write this article not because I have an in depth knowledge of the ancient histories and workings of a Goan home, but because of an inherent fascination for them.

The signboards: a beautiful signboard consisting of a few tiles put together, and painted in the traditional blue states heralds the entrance of the house. It could simply read “Menezes” or be a more elaborate “Casa de Menezes” meaning home of the menezes, or could even have a quote or an elaborate saying, like “Me casa su casa”. These signboards are called Azulejos, which are traditional Portuguese tin – glazed tile paintings. They are not restricted to signboards or homes, and tile paintings can be elaborate enough to decorate entire walls or facades, can be present within a building or on the exterior, and can depict elaborate historical events and the art can be dated according to the centuries it belonged to dating back to the 13th century.

The windows: The windows of some of the Goan homes have a distinctive glass pattern, with small square shaped pieces of glass slotted within the frame. In the early 18th century, the homes used the local mother of pearl from locally sourced oysters. The light filtering through these translucent mother of pearl windows, cast an ethereal glow within the homes.