Toybox

The project began with a 160-year-old house in Goa, modest in scale yet rich in quiet character. Weathered by time but deeply evocative, the home carried a familiar warmth that deserved preservation. Rather than rebuild, the design intent was to restore and reinterpret, breathing new life into its historic shell while adapting it to the rhythms of contemporary living. The spatial layout, originally rigid and compartmentalized like many traditional homes, was reimagined into an open, light-filled plan that reconnects the house with its lush tropical surroundings.

Instead of recreating heritage details, the design chose to reinterpret them, giving familiar elements new purpose and expression. Architectural markers of Goan homes such as the balcao, plaster bands, and deep verandahs were translated into a modern idiom that maintains continuity yet encourages thoughtful evolution. The original balcao was carefully dismantled and rebuilt as an expanded verandah that now opens generously into the garden. Raising the roof allowed the introduction of a mezzanine, adding a vertical dimension to the interior and creating an eat-in kitchen below and a cozy family den above. A central courtyard, along with operable windows, now draws natural light and air deep into the home, nurturing a continuous dialogue between inside and outside.

A conscious effort was made to reuse and repurpose existing materials. Salvaged timber and terracotta tiles found new expression in the restructured roof, while weaker wooden members were transformed into mezzanine flooring and custom furniture. Old grills, doors, and shutters were thoughtfully integrated into the renewed design, preserving the home’s memory as much as its material essence. Locally sourced laterite walls and red oxide flooring root the house firmly in its Goan context, while passive cooling strategies, added insulation, and ample cross-ventilation significantly reduce mechanical dependence.

The result is a home that feels both renewed and timeless, balancing heritage with contemporary life. It is a sensitive restoration that honors the spirit of the original structure while embracing the possibilities of change. Craft, memory, landscape, and modern comfort coexist in harmony, creating a dwelling that feels deeply anchored in its past yet confidently aligned with the present.