A historic 160-year-old Portuguese-style home in Goa, India, has been meticulously restored and adapted for contemporary living by Indian architecture practice Grounded. The project, called Toybox, showcases how traditional Goan-Portuguese vernacular architecture can be thoughtfully modernized while preserving its cultural heritage and historic character.
The property is located in the quiet village of Aldona in Goa, situated close to the banks of the Moira River. The house previously belonged to the family of the former governor of Portuguese India and is now owned by Grounded founder Anjali Mangalgiri, who renovated the property for sale. Mangalgiri aimed to carefully balance historic preservation with the practical needs of modern living.
"The process began by documenting historic features to preserve the Goan-Portuguese vernacular elements, retaining the original footprint and trees on the site, the original shell, terracotta tile roof, and traditional facade plaster detailing," Mangalgiri explained. The restoration team meticulously planned the interior layout to include a living room, study, eat-in kitchen, and two bedrooms within the original footprint of the historic structure.
To accommodate modern living requirements, the architects added a new structure containing additional bathrooms and another bedroom, connecting it to the existing building through an interior courtyard. At the front of the house, they expanded the narrow traditional Goan-style porch, known as a balcao, into a larger, more functional verandah suitable for contemporary social activities.
"For us, reinterpretation is key: the narrow balcao was expanded into a larger verandah to suit modern social scales, while its original stone seat was carefully dismantled, preserved and rebuilt into the larger verandah," Mangalgiri detailed. This approach demonstrates the firm's philosophy of respecting historical elements while adapting them for current use.
The heart of the renovated home is a central eat-in kitchen, which occupies the largest area and was specifically designed to embody the home's social spirit. Originally a traditional Portuguese-style family room known as a sala, this space was transformed into an open-plan kitchen and dining area. The architects raised the roof to accommodate a new mezzanine space, creating a more open layout that moves away from the traditionally compartmentalized Portuguese colonial design.
"The roof was raised to accommodate the mezzanine, creating an open plan layout and moving away from the traditionally compartmentalised layout," Mangalgiri said. The mezzanine level now houses an intimate family den, while the raised roof allowed for larger multiple openings that improve natural light and ventilation throughout the space.
The architectural team paid special attention to the placement and design of new openings. "Designed to make an architectural statement, the openings of the west wall offer a cathedral-like quality, while the window on the east hosts a window seat and enables east-west cross ventilation through the space," Mangalgiri explained. These strategic interventions enhance both the aesthetic appeal and environmental comfort of the home.
Throughout the restoration, the team carefully preserved original materials and architectural elements. The existing timber structure of the roof was maintained and covered with traditional terracotta tiles. Inside, the original red oxide floors were restored and complemented with lime plaster walls, reclaimed teak wood furniture, and antique ceramic tiles. Several historic features were deliberately preserved, including a prayer niche in the kitchen, pilasters framing the windows, and a decorative crest above the entrance dating back to 1860.
In the newly constructed section, the architects used earth-toned micro-concrete flooring specifically chosen to "resonate with the original historic materials used in Portugal and Goa during its original construction era." Even rafters that were too fragile for structural reuse were repurposed as chevron-patterned flooring for the mezzanine, demonstrating the team's commitment to waste reduction and material continuity.
"These are deliberate acts of continuity: a way of rooting design in lived history, where every fluted band, tiled floor, and restored element connects the new homeowner to a lineage of Goan-Portuguese craftsmanship and domestic life," the studio explained. This philosophy reflects a deeper understanding of architecture as a bridge between past and present.
Grounded, founded by Mangalgiri, is a Goa-based architecture practice that describes its business model as "unconventional," combining the roles of architect, developer, and custodian into a single practice. The firm specializes in helping clients navigate the complex process of buying and restoring heritage Goan properties, which often involve multiple owners and complicated inheritance lines under the Portuguese Civil Code that was introduced in Goa in 1870. This unique approach addresses the practical challenges that many face when attempting to preserve and adapt historic properties in the region.
