Heritage houses in Goa, typically built during the Portuguese colonial era, are known for their distinctive features such as intricate woodwork, tall windows, elaborate facades, spacious courtyards, and colorful tiles. These homes are not just places to live; they are repositories of history, reflecting the cultural and architectural styles of a bygone era. However, the upkeep of these houses presents numerous challenges, particularly as they age and face the pressures of modernization, climate change, and urbanization.
One of the primary roles of heritage house owners is to ensure that the homes are well-maintained while retaining their historical integrity. This requires a deep understanding of the architectural value of the house, as well as the use of traditional materials and methods for repairs. For instance, instead of opting for modern materials like cement or glass, heritage house owners often rely on lime plaster, red-tiled roofs, and wooden beams, all of which were used during the period of construction. Many families across the state have also adopted to adaptive reuse of these heritage spaces, so as to get in financial support required for the upkeep of these mansions.
In addition to preserving the structure, owners are responsible for safeguarding the aesthetic and cultural elements of their homes. This includes maintaining antique furniture, preserving family heirlooms, and ensuring that the traditional layouts of the homes are kept intact. Such efforts not only conserve architectural beauty but also contribute to the rich cultural tapestry of Goa. Traditionally, most of the house owners had several servants, generally tenants who would undertake works of maintenance and cleanliness of the house under the watchful eyes of their master. They would often be paid in kind. The owners often did not do any physical work themselves. However, in today’s times with a scarcity of helpers and maids and also bearing the virtue of the dignity of labor, it is often noticed that owners of heritage homes do not keep themselves from undertaking physical works in their homes themselves.
If there is a leakage in the roof, I have to fix it myself, especially during the monsoon
Ranjeev Fernandes, Cotta South Goa
The preservation of these houses is also tied to the economic and social fabric of the region. Many heritage houses are passed down through generations, and for many owners, maintaining the property is a matter of familial pride. It is also an essential part of Goa’s tourism industry, as heritage houses attract visitors eager to explore the region’s history. By taking good care of their homes, owners ensure that these houses continue to be sources of local and global interest.
‘Most heritage houses in Goa are built out of mud and plastered in lime. Goa being a land of heavy rainfall these walls have to be well protected, which means the roof has to be maintained very well to avoid leakage to prevent the mud walls from getting wet. Now maintaining the roof is an extremely expensive affair given the high cost of timber and labor now a days’, says Glenn Rodrigues owner on a century old house in Utorda, South Goa. Further he explains that the second danger is termite. ‘Since the roof structure, false ceiling and all doors, windows, wardrobes and wall cupboards are of wood, these have to be protected by regularly carrying out pest control treatments, which is again an expensive affair’, he adds
Heritage house owners often engage with local heritage conservation bodies, government agencies, and NGOs to ensure that proper laws and policies are in place to protect these homes. Ideally, they should also play a part in educating younger generations about the significance of their homes, fostering a sense of pride and responsibility toward heritage conservation.
Irwin Antão the owner of an ancestral House in Chandor says that most old homes do not meet modern functional requirements like attached toilets, A/cs etc, and thus residents have to often compromise on their comforts.
‘We follow simple procedures of yearly maintenance of the roof by spraying insecticides and also exposing it to the sun without the tiles. All I hope is that the govt someday creates a separate fund for maintaining old traditional houses like ours’, mentions Irwin with optimism.
The balcão, balconies, windows and furniture are some of the important features of Goan homes. As far as maintaining the historical integrity of my property is concerned, we follow the traditional ways of preservation, like our ancestors did
Irwin Antao, Chandor
In conclusion, the role of heritage house owners in Goa is vital to the upkeep and preservation of these architectural gems. Through diligent care, respect for tradition, and a commitment to preserving the cultural legacy, owners contribute not only to the physical conservation of the homes but also to the collective memory and identity of Goa. Their efforts ensure that these homes remain living testimonies of Goa’s rich past for posterity.