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| Wednesday, 13 August 2003 |
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Features | |
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Old houses of Goa Architectural marvels We picked this article from India perspectives of July 2002, featuring old houses of Goa just to give you an idea of what we intend to do with regard to our ancestral homes.
The basic architectural style of these houses evolved over several hundred years, fundamentally dictated by the local 'warm-humid' climate. The houses reveal an amazing practicality on part of the builders over the ages, manifest in features such as provision for cross ventilation at body level, high ceilings, ventilator tiles on the roofs, an inner courtyard to provide light and draft to all the rooms, and, of course, the verandahs and the 'balcao' or front sit-out porch (a later development). The Portuguese customs and lifestyle had a profound influence on local building styles and the most remarkable feature of Goan architecture is its harmonious evolution over the years. As Lucio Miranda a well-known architect of Goa says, "we can see how, over the entire period, the original Baroque and Roccoco decorative features were simplified and modified without loss of character, as the architects gradually become more vernacular while remaining anonymous. In the midst of a tremendous variety of designs there seemed to remain a sense of unity even between the rich man's and the middle-class houses, proving that forms that truly evolve out of function remain timeless and never seem dated or out of fashion". The typical Goan house, whether a simple basic structure to provide shelter or the grand ornate mansion, was a vital pivot on which family ties revolved. It gave to be occupants a feeling of security, strength and permanence. With maritime trade flourishing and money flowing in, the houses became larger and more ornate. Exquisitely carved furniture and porcelain imported from Europe and the other Portuguese colonies adorned the drawing and the living rooms. There is no distinction between a Hindu house and a Christian house as far as the basic style is concerned. The Hindu house would have a Tulsi plant in the courtyard, the Christian house a cross. Aristocratic families, of course, had private temples or chapels inside their houses. Both types of houses had beautiful ornate windows, with flattened, mother of pearl shells for window panes - a unique feature of any old house. These panes were translucent, neither opaque nor transparent, letting in just enough light. The upper floor balconies had intricately designed cast iron railings. The interior decor depended upon the status of the family. Tiles, frescoes and other paintings adorned the houses of the well-heeled. In any case, these houses afforded a very pleasing aesthetic feeling to anyone entering them. Another leading architect of Goa, Gerard da Cunha makes a very vivid observation, "So what is it, I often wonder, that makes these houses, whether Hindu or Catholic, so special? Is it their perfect placement amidst the landscape? Is it their perfect personification of the perfect amalgam of two (Indian and European) cultures? Set history aside and it would seem as if some sensitive designer had carefully placed the village green, the market, the church and the temple in easily accessible and visible locations. That this same designer had played a double role as a 'sutradbhar' or curtain raiser in the choreography of feasts, funerals, processions and pageants and then, almost as an after-thought placed the houses in their own contextual neighbourhood". The house belonging to Jitendra Deshprabhu, a local legislator, is probably the largest and the grandest. He has the unique distinction of being a local Raja as well as Viscount - a title given by the Portuguese to his forefathers. The house is located in Pernem and boasts of exquisitely carved furniture depicting Hindu motifs. There is a private temple and a separate building for use as a Guest House to entertain foreign guests. It has the largest banquet hall in Goa. The Menezes-Braganza House in Chandor is probably the best maintained. From outside, it does not impress so much as far as style is concerned but the inside is a feast for the eyes! It was built in the 16th century and houses a valuable collection of furniture, chandeliers, books, manuscripts, porcelain and other artifacts. Mrs. Braganza, a frail old lady, now 75 years plus, looks after the house all by herself. The proud owner of another beautiful house is none other than Mario Miranda, the famous cartoonist. His house, which is more than 320 years old, is situated in Loutolim in Salcete Taluka. The architecture of the house is again not very impressive, but as you enter, the charm and grace of a lifestyle of a bygone era unfolds like pages from a wonderful fairytale. Mario Miranda describes it beautifully, "I still remember the hush in the halls when the Governor descended the stairway with my mother on his arm, followed by my father with the Governor's wife on his arm. Wheelchair Friendly Environment The Committee of the Architectural Advisory Forum, whilst congratulating, the bold "voice" of Sir Arthur C. Clarke, Dr. Ajith C.S. Perera, and all the other concerned citizens of this country, take serious account the very critical issue raised, on the "Accessibility to Built Environments for Persons with Disabilities". Detailed response to this issue will be carried in our next issue. Since it is expensive to maintain old houses, many enterprising families have converted them into guest houses, restaurants and shops. **************************** Sinhala architectural tradition of restoration and maintenance of buildings By Prof.Nimal de Silva In any civilization it is important to know how the traditions are formed, how to understand traditions and their importance for today and the future. Tradition is the accumulated wisdom of the past. It is the product of the knowledge that man has gained by understanding and adopting to the nature and environment in fulfilling his inspirations and requirement in the process of serving individually and as a group. Traditions have evolved technologies for performance and identity for pride and survival. Traditions have changed with time and the changing requirements of human beings. The rate of change in the past was very gentle and slow. But with strong foreign influence and impact traditional knowledge may get lost due to ignorance and disrespect. In the process of globalization it is important to gain identity by understanding and appreciating traditions. Otherwise you will not be you. There are three avenues of understanding tradition. 1. By studying literary sources those are silpa texts written on the subject, direct reference, indirect references and reporting in previous studies. 2. By studying the archaeological remains and 3. By studying the current continuity of the tradition. Combination of all those methods will give better results. In the traditional form there were two kinds of buildings; temporary buildings were made out of mud, timber and thatch; permanent buildings were made out of stone, brick, timber and tiles. In the tradition, maintenance and restoration were interwoven with architectural design, construction and practice. In silpa texts like Manjusri Bhashita Vastuvidya Sastra and Chitra Karma Sastra complied as far back as 5th century one chapter was written on restoration of monuments. In this book the following were identified as the causes of deterioration: Wind Different treatments were identified for each of these destructive forces. It was not focused only on physical treatments but also many psychological therapies for the uses of these buildings. Stone inscriptions and royal grants have concentrated on maintenance of buildings by appointing technological people and giving land grants for their maintenance. It is advisable to understand the tradition in restoration and maintenance of Buildings. (Courtesy: "Vastu Shilpa Shastra" in the CSA Papers Vol.2 Issue 1) **************************** We are interested in your ancestral homes ARCH-watch is interested in your ancestral homes, if they are over 100 years old, and being maintained in the same way as they were built, with no architectural design and style modifications or changes, done. We feel that some of these homes should be preserved for their architectural and cultural values, for future generations to see, study, and adopt any aspects in them which may be found feasible to incorporate into the present day designs, by the architects. Sadly we find, as far as we know that most of these houses have already been demolished and obliterated from the living architecture of that period giving way to modern architectured buildings and homes. Only a very few of them yet remain with the families who take pride in their ancestral homes. We would like to feature these homes in this page, and visit them for that purpose. Hence we would like those families, who would not mind getting these ancestral homes featured in this page, to write to: The Arch Watch Co-ordinator C/o Features Editor, **************************** Daily News - SLIA Architectural Advisory Forum The Daily News, together with the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects, invite you to forward in writing, your specific questions for advice, with regard to Building Design and Construction, relating to Housing and other Buildings, accompanied by supporting plans, sketches, partial drawings etc to; Archt. Rehan Tilakaratna - Chairman, Board of Architectural Publication, SLIA Sri Lanka Institute of Architects, 120/7 Vidya Mawatha, Colombo 7 and a copy to Mr. Edward Arambewala - Co-ordinator, Arch Watch Daily News, Lake House, Colombo 1. The Advisory Forum Comprises Architects Rehan Tilakaratna FIA (SL) Chairman Prasanna Silva, FIA (SL) Ranjan Nadesapillai FIA (SL) Vasantha de Silva FIA (SL) Viranjan Kurukulasuriya AIA (SL) (co-chairman) and Prasanna Kulatilake AIA (SL) The Daily News/SLIA Architectural Housing and Building Advisory Forum wish to thank all those readers who wrote to us commending the re-commencement of this page. We also had a number of letters from the public asking for advice on a variety of housing problems. We will be answering them in future issues. **************************** Getting your building plans approved? The ARCH Watch Forum of its meeting last week decided to help ARCH Watch readers with resolving any problems and delays they may be encountering in getting their building plans approved. At this meeting chaired by Chartered Architect Veranjan Kurukulasuriya Vice-Chairman ARCH Watch Forum, who is also the Deputy Director/Architect, Town and Country Planning Department it was decided to offer this help as a special service to the ARCH Watch, and Daily News readers from now on. All you have to do is to write with details of your problem giving all the details to Architect Viranjan Kurukulasuriya, Vice-Chairman, ARCH Watch, Please don't fail to send a copy of your letter to the ARCH Watch Coordinator addressed to the Daily News, given elsewhere on this page. Also cut this coupon and attach to your problem letter to the SLIA. Make sure that you attach the most current cupon. **************************** Environment-friendly housing complex in Ja-Ela by Edward Arambewela A model housing complex where garbage collected and recycled and a septic tank system where the human excreta is treated and used as fertilizer is working well in a 114 acre housing complex in Ja-Ela. In this scheme which we visited last week being the first such scheme in the country we found the whole area environmentally inviting and a welcome sight to anybody going there. What we found very striking here is that the Management Company has gone beyond just making a business venture, but also given due consideration to ensure being environment-friendly in planning to the very minutest detail, as mentioned earlier in tackling the garbage problem within the complex itself without burdening the local authority with it. The septic tank fertilizer is being used for gardening. An officer of the Management Company, Panduka Weerasinghe explained that even after completing the scheme fully and disposing the houses to the people, a unit of the company would remain there undertaking maintenance to ensure that there won't be any breakdown in the maintenance procedures. He also explained that the complex residents themselves who are already there greatly appreciate the environment-friendly approach of the whole scheme and are fully co-operating with the management and supporting the various methods adopted to achieve the objectives and keep it going without any breakdown. According to Mr. Weerasinghe, the Environment Department of the Peradeniya University in association with the complex residents and the Management Company are planning to launch a public education programme in environment-friendly living to the whole country taking the complex of the model. An old three roomed house that has been there in this 114 acre land mass, is being preserved and used as the complex office. Mr. Weerasinghe said this house has been there as part of the environment and it will remain so, as we respect and honour the environment. **************************** Six lessons from Singapore, or Borella junction - part 2 By Archt.Veranjan Kurukulasuriya I went to Singapore. I walked up and down the streets, enjoying the walk every time irrespective of the time of the day, and always thought how different everything was from Borella Junction. Then I thought, well, it is ok for Singapore, they are rich and they can afford all these luxuries; in Sri Lanka we should live according to our means. Looking closer, however, I was stunned to find that it was not their richness that mattered but their cleverness. So I thought I ought to study the streets of Singapore and I leant a few lessons. Here they are. Lesson 1 There was a place for everyone and everything. The pedestrians were given ample space to walk, talk, take pictures (space enough to set up the camera on a tripod), sit down and watch others walking or talking or taking pictures or sitting down. Vehicles had their own space on the road for driving or parking. There was a bus lane reserved for buses and they stopped at bus stops only. There were yellow lines indicating the place for buses to stop and the bus drivers stopped exactly on the line; the next bus stopped behind and took its place when the bus in front moved away. Bus-races did not take place on the roads. (They must be having some place reserved for that) At crossings, pedestrians and vehicles took turns in using the roads and colour signal lights were used to regulate this. At most places the pedestrians got to know how much time was left for them to cross the roads and could regulate their walking (or running) speed. At rare instances where there was a conflict, the pedestrians always had the right of way. Lesson 2 The commercial buildings always had an arcade to accommodate pedestrians. This made pedestrian traffic on the pavement smooth and provided shade and shelter from the sun and rain. Lesson 3 Generation of traffic was controlled by a policy that restricted the acquisition of private vehicles but provided comfortable public transport at relatively low rates. The buses and trains have televisions so that travellers would not get bored. In any case, it was pretty obvious that their policy was not one-car for each person (which is the unwritten policy of Sri Lanka) Lesson 4 Medium and long term plans have been prepared to pedestrianize many areas. These plans provided for central railway stations that brought multitudes of people right into the centre of the districts and then took them to their destinations on travellators (moving walkways). This would enable millions of people to come into the city centres without creating stupendous traffic jams. Lesson 5 The urban design of the city was excellent. Most buildings or blocks were not separated by boundary walls; but one block flowed into another creating one unified city. Landscaping has been used to good effect. Trees or high-rise buildings shaded the roads. Road signs were clearly visible. No advertisements on the roads blocked the road signs or the beautiful views of the city. Construction of roads was excellent; the pits, swellings, depressions and corrugations that are so common in the best of our roads were totally absent in Singapore that has technically a harsher climate. Lesson 6 Violations of the system were considered with severity involving large fines. The underlying principle is simple: the system worked smoothly for the benefit of everyone only as long as the rules were obeyed meticulously, deviations would seriously damage the system. So offenders have to be handed out adequate punishment in order to protect the millions of non-offenders.Too simple and obvious? Yes, I agree. But we have not leaned them, have we? None of the six lessons (including Lesson 4) require heavy investment. In fact, if Lesson 6 were put into practice in Sri Lanka, the Government would be able to raise all the money it requires for the road development, construction and maintenance programme. Somebody should tell me why we cannot learn these simple lessons and put them into practice. |
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Produced by Lake House |
Goa is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India, known for
its sun, sand and surf as also its old churches and temples. However, very
few tourists are acquainted with a unique aspect of Goa - its old
traditional houses, some of which are more than 250 years old and still
well-preserved.
