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estates >7www.heraldgoa.inGoa I Monday, March 19, 2012

“The gated commune will becomplimentary to itssurrounding environment”

-Devadas Naik

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qas

Propped carefully on the deskis the beautiful glass trophyrecently bagged by Naik for

his successful ‘Holiday Homes’ con-cept in Goa. Visibly thrilled to be ac-knowledged by one of India’s mostprestigious business awards (ETNow, Leaders of Tomorrow Award),Naik states that his future venture at

Porvorim too is equally innovativeand promising in nature.

“In 2004, I bought a 78,000 sq mplot and subdivided them into 74plots. Over the years, each of theseplots was connected with electricity,water, internet and cable supplies. Ieven planted trees alongside, whichwould be turned into streetscapes,”reveals Naik about his new project.Today, as time moves on, bit by bit,

Naik’s vision of creating 74 ready-to-move in luxury villas with privategardens and car porches in a hamletlike gated commune is molding intoa reality. “What is most unique aboutmy project is that although it is acommune, the owner of each villa isentitled to owning his respective in-dividual plot. Therefore, we have dif-

ferent sale-deeds for the plot and thevilla. This concept is something of anovelty in Goa, and I doubt anybodyin India had come up with one beforeI did.” Known for his ability to popup a new idea in the world of busi-ness, Naik quotes that the uniqueidea hit him when apartment own-ers in his Candolim-based holidayresort asked how much space theyowned. “In common undivided

share of land that one gets in anycustomary complex, the ownerlegally does not know how muchspace he possesses. In this case, how-ever, each 74 sub-divided plot andvilla becomes an entity in govern-ment records. And if a villa owner

wants to demolish and build it ac-cording to his own design, maybe toenlarge the garden area or for what-ever reasons, he can do it without ob-taining NOCs from other villaowners. Besides, plot ownershipmeans assurance of a lasting asset-

value.” Elaborating further,he informs that the projecthas another uncommon con-cept in store. There will be aProperty Management Sys-tem that would look intoplumbing, electricity and other issueswithin this mini-township. This willliberate the owners from the hassles

of visiting various government de-partments to sort out their problems.Naik also envisions his project to bea passive development very much insync with nature. “The gated com-munity will be complimentary to itssurrounding environment. It can belikened to an up-market villageamidst natural vegetation with justthe music of the wind.” The partlycompleted project will soon be

adorned with landscaped gardens, aclubhouse, tennis court, a fully airconditioned crèche among other fea-

tures. When asked what if a villaowner seeks to convert his residentialpremise into a commercial one, Naikreplies, “Since the plot belongs en-tirely to the owner, he is free to dowhatever he wants. He has the legalright and nobody can question him.However, there are unwrien rulesfor residents in a commune and it ishis social and moral duty not to” heelaborates.

If we, in Goa, were to exclude all

architecture belonging to the

colonial period and then grade all

that was built during the post-libera-

tion period till date, how many would

score pass marks on the value of 

their creativity, was a question asked

by some friends vis-

iting Goa a few

weeks ago. Of 

course, any answer

to this questionwould have to carry

an asterisk mark

with a fine print say-

ing that conditions

apply since every-

one, architects in-

cluded, have their

own terms and

meanings to define

what good architec-

ture is. One would

have thought, given Goa’s inspira-

tional built heritage, our contempo-

rary architecture would be abound

with examples that do justice and

more to this precious architectural

legacy. However, it is no secret that

the reality is something else. Simply

said there would be hardly any, that

would make the grade.The villas at

Verem are among the few that stands

out. Designed by Charles Correa,

these villas are relevant for the fact

that while they are part of a commer-

cial residential project by a property

developer, the vill as express clearly

everything that can be truly called

Goan style (for lack of a better word).

Minus all meaningless surface orna-

mentation that we see adorning fa-

cades today, the built form of these

villas, proportionate to human scale,

are decorated with elements that are

not cosmetic but integral to the

form of the structures such as the

tiled roofs with their overhangs,

the first floor hidden away under

the roof giving a sensation of being 

only a ground floor structure, plain

walls painted in simple white and

the unplastered common laterite

stone for the compoundwall.

In today’s architectural world that

is dominated by developer-driven proj-

ects, these villas show how creativity

can be harnessed without resorting 

to gimmicky designs to

satisfy commercial inter-

ests. A lot of us today, be-

moan the fact that

architecture can hardlybe represented in proj-

ects that are commer-

cially driven, attributing 

design deficiencies on

the developer’s relent-

less pursuit of sale and

profit that bypasses

everything else, in its

wake. While it is true that

the a project can get only

as good as its owner

wishes, the Villas at Betim demon-

strate that excellence in design can

be achieved while retaining all that is

necessary to be

commercially

successful.

It is this trait

that makes

these villas, a

showcase for

contemporary

Goan architec-

ture. The Mu-

seum for the

Houses of Goa

at Torda, Por-

vorim is another

that comes to

mind immediately.

Designed by Gerard de Cunha, this

Museum utilizes building materials to

showcase the art of architecture. The

local laterite stone blocks, placed one

above another, are stretched likenothing seen before, with each of 

them projecting out by just a small bit

over the entire three floor height of 

the structure, to achieve a building 

form that is anything but conven-

tional. The simplicity of this method of 

construction using a local material in

the most practical and direct manner

without any of the grand embellish-

ments that books of architecture

showcase, makes this building, one

of the best that present Goa offers.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, in

the Don Bosco School Campus is the

third in this list. Designed by the late

J. R. Ralino de Sousa, long ago in

1979, the Chapel presents a unique

form of architecture --- one that relies

on the structural frame of the build-

ing to create its architectural expres-

sion.

None of our architectural designs of 

the present comes close to matching 

this design and today, 33 years since

it was built, it still has the greatest rel-

evance for our times in its minimalis-

tic approach where no extra materials

or features other than that used for

the structure are necessary to beau-

tify the interiors and exteriors.

This is the architecture of the future

and to think that this was conceptual-

ized all the way back in 1979 speaks

volumes of the genius of the archi-

tect.These case studies are not in any

particular order of merit or preference

and to my mind, they remain the best

three, among just a handful, to pres-

ent the architecture of our modern

times in good light.

------------------------------------------------------------------

The author is a practicing architect

based in Carambolim, Goa.

 jim.manjooran@gmail.com

To raTe archiTecTure

JIM MANJOORAN

architectonic

sdas

Villas at Verem Museum for the Houses of Goa at Torda

Home with a plot, garden, garage…even foliage

“What is most unique about my project isthat although it is a commune, the ownerof each villa is entitled to owning hisrespective individual plot. Therefore, wehave different sale-deeds for the plot andthe villa. This concept is something of anovelty in Goa, and I doubt anybody inIndia had come up with one before I did.”

The roof tile business is on thedecline. Though these firedroof tiles are found as early as

the 3rd millennium BC, today, the biggest challenge facing the industryare the modern day concrete construc-tions, which have also pavedthe way for alternate roofingtechniques, including decora-tive shingles.

Roofing shingles are flat orcurved tiles that interlock andoverlap in a way that c hannelswater off a pitched roof. Thereare some houses in Goa whichhave used shingles, but its cost has de-terred many home owners from opt-ing for shingles.

Shingles are made from materials(generally from asphalt) that vary incost, weight, durability, color, and ar-chitectural style.

The traditional roof tiles predomi-nantly originate from Mangalore, andthat explains the name aributed tothe tiles. Actually, Mangalore townonce had 36 tile factories, some 30years ago, but stiff competition has re-

duced the number to mere six func-tional factories, with some notfunctioning to full capacity.

Stiff competition and alternativeconstruction systems – predominantlyconcrete roofing — has threatened itsvery survival. Another drawback of

the tiles is the need to regularly checkthe placement of tiles on the roof,since any shi can upset the defenceto rain water promting leakages.

Cost for transportation, inadequatequantity of cheap firewood used as

fuel too has jacked up its man-ufacturing cost. The steep costof kerosene, bran oil, kiddenoil, power tarrif, diesel and lu- bricating oil ha s adversely af-fected its production. Even theraw material for its manufac-ture, which once was widelyavailable by way of clay de-

posits in the region is now made vir-tually inacessible. The available clayoffered tensil strength and colour tothe final product. However, today, amajor portion of the area with largedeposits of these clay have been occu-pied by mega industries and therefore

limited supply is available for the fac-tories to keep going. Internal compe-tition among manufactures too hasplayed havoc. In the wake of thestruggling industry, the government’sR&D Centre for Clay Roofing Tiles,Bricks and Other Ceramic Productswas established in 1993 with the ideaof guiding, supporting and helpingthe industry. But despite scope for im-provement of methods, quality con-trol, fuel efficiency, innovation andinvention in the production and mar-keting of tiles, new designs sought to be introduc ed in an effort to aractcustomers has not galvanized the pro-ducers. Consequently, with decline inthe demand for roofing tiles, somemanufacturers have opted to manu-facturing drinking water pots, flowervases, bricks and related products tosustain the industry.

Slipping from the eavesThe traditional roof tile industry is struggling for survival.

(Left) Mangalore tiles and Roof shingles (right)

Pergolas can pep up

the surroundings

Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Don Bosco,Panjim

Highland Constructions Pvt Ltd chief Devadas Naik pioneers a new concept in marketing realty space for its clients.

If your backyard is plain, or the

front portion of your house has

some space, a good idea would

be to have a pergola. Contractors and

architects in Goa now-a-days suggest

erection of such gazebos to their afflu-

ent clientele. However, traditional

homes too can opt for such attractive

structures, which can be erected

cheaply with even bamboos.

 A per gola is a structure that pro-

vides shade by allowing climbers over 

it so that there is adequate ventilation

thereby providing a cool, shaded area

beneath it. They make excellent recre-ation areas.

The defining feature of a pergola is

the support columns which run along

either side, typically connecting with a

latticed framework above. Plants are

trained to grow up the pillars until

they reach the framework, at which

point they will spread out to cover 

the top of the pergola, and some-

times they may start to dangle part-

way down the sides. Flowering

climbers over the lattice working

atop eventually offers a colourful

ambience. Some however prefer to

cover the structure with transparent

fiberglass material.

....Specially with flowering climbers

A panoramic view of Highland Villasunder construction at Porvorim

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