28 May 2020  |   03:26am IST

An architect of ethics, of heritage and of the land he loved

Sarto Almeida was not just a multi-talented architect. He shaped minds with both his intellect and integrity. His footprints will always be on the sands of Goa’s history, as much as his architectural creations will remain as signposts of Goa’s architectural treasures

By Agnelo Furtado; café@herald-goa.com

Arch. Sarto Almeida was a unique personality with very strong principles and high professional ethics which he never compromised at the altar of commercialism. He was a pioneer and a crusader to maintain Goa’s heritage structures and locations. He always fought for the truth and defended his convictions to the core. When his ideologies were not in sync with the government policies, he did not hesitate to step down as chairman of South Goa’s first PDA. In my life, I have met many personalities but never a persona with such high standards of integrity and ethics as Arch. Sarto Almeida.

 

When architecture in Goa was in its nascent stage, Arch. Almeida with his soft-spoken voice, humble unassuming nature, had trained so many young architects, who will carry forward his ideology and legacy.

 

Arch. Almeida with his omnipresent smile, wearing his trademark three-quarter pants, with his sartorial fashion statement made him an almost ageless icon, for the new generation to follow. Arch. Sarto Almeida together with his lovely wife Therese, have brought new concepts in the field of education, art and culture, benefiting the society. Our new generation needs to be acquainted and follow the footsteps of this great personality. His designs are like Picasso’s paintings; difficult to appreciate and fathom at first sight, a little familiarity will instantly tell you that functionality and practicality is the main ideology. Arch. Sarto Almeida has many landmarks to his design and credit: -  Monasteries, Temples, Schools, Halls, beautiful Villas and the standout International center at Dona Paula.

 

The signature of his design is the sense of spaciousness he brings about with broad staircases and plenty of light; gentle rises on the steps which do not tire you while climbing even to the third level (in case of elevator failure). His signature designs will always remain in the memory of his legacy.

 

   Flashback: Arch. Almeida traces his ancestry and roots to the illustrious village of Chinchinim. He reminisced that his grandfather went to East Africa and had large plantations there. Their beautiful ancestral home, overlooking the church football ground, due to disuse and lack of maintenance, vanished into village history like most Goan houses of expats. The Almeida family tried to gain back their foothold in the village of Chinchinim, by trying to acquire a picturesque hill called the ‘Hill of The Saints (Santan Dongor)’, where to this day, foxes and fruit bats call it their home and in the eerie dead of the night, yelp and raid the village countryside for food. Alas!

 

The hill eluded the Almeidas and always remained a distant mirage. Arch. Sarto Almeida was born on July 5 1924, studied in Sir JJ School of Arts Mumbai, where the famous cartoonist Mario Miranda had also studied and was his family friend; then on, he went to various destinations and even worked under the world-famous architect Le Corbusier who designed the city of Chandigarh. Arch. Sarto Almeida’s love for Goa was so great, that he finally managed to acquire an old heritage house in the quaint village of Seraulim and lived a leisurely life with his family. We as parents, once went to his house to convince his wife Mrs.Therese Almeida founder of Manovikas School to have a football ground for Manovikas. Arch.Sarto Almeida overheard our conversation in the hall. He came and joined us and we had an unexpected ally to fight for our cause and Manovikas had a sports ground in no time. Arch. Sarto Almeida is a multi-talented, lover of sports, art, and culture. He was part of a musical band in Mumbai. He is an epitome and personification of “Goemkarpon”. His unique architectural designs will always remain as mementos in his memory.

 

( Agnelo Furtado a senior Herald reader and regular letter writer hails from Sarto Almeida’s village Chinchinim)