First Floor

Chronology of World Architecture Encounter with the Outside World Historic Pictorial Records of Goa Glimpses of GoaThe Deshprabhu House The Godinho-Jacques House The Loyola-Furtado House The Miranda House The Silva House The Costa House The Kelekar House

Second Floor

Climate and Architecture Material and Construction China Mosaic Flooring Frescoes and Wall Paintings The Interior Oyster Shell Railings False Ceiling Columns Indo-Portuguese Furniture Eaves Board

Attic Floor

Goan Houses Early Views Helder Carita Casa de Sobrado The Balcao Houses and their setting Tulsi Vrindavan and Crosses Raj Angan Machila

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Material and Construction


LATERITE

Laterite soil cointain oxide of iron and aluminium and are found in many parts of Goa.The top layer of well developed laterite soil are relatively strong and bricks and rubble can be extracted.The former by hand or power tiller and the later by blasting.


BRICKS

EXTRACTION



STACKING


DRESSING




RUBBLE

EXTRACTION


STACKING


DRESSING




RAMMED EARTH






ADOBE

(SUN DRIED BRICK)






WATTLE AND DAUB






SHELL LIME

The rivers were dredged for shells from which good quality lime was produced for mortar and plaster.These have stood the test of time.



AGGREGATES

The fast flowing streams offer plentiful river pebbles of all grades.In recent times a number of quarries extravting metal from basalt have been commisioned.


RIVER PEBBLES


METAL



TIMBER


Goa with its tropical forests provide many different species of wood for house building.Roofing and door and window frame were generally done in Matti (Terminalia Tomentosa). Railings, columns, shutters and furniture in Teak (Tectona Grandis) or Jackwood (Artocarpus Hetrophylla). Zambo (Xylo Xylocarpa) was used when rain or dampness may have been a cause for concern. Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) was used as a low cost option for roofing.


TEAKWOOD



JACKWOOD



COCONUT




ROOFS

The earliest roof covering was probably some palms and grasses. The Portuguese brought the Coconut palm and these began being used as thatch for roofing.During this period country or pan tiles were also used.Finally came the family of the Mangalore tile, which has evolved over a period of time.


COUNTRY TILE



MANGALORE TILE



COCONUT THATCH



PRE -MANGALORE TILE



FLOORING

The earliest flooring was of beaten earth stabilized with cowdung. Next came iron oxide mixed with lime. Later came broken china as ballast from ships which were made into elaborate designs. In early 20th century insitu and tiles of marble mosaic became common along with the import of ceramic tiles from France and Italy.


MUD



OXIDE



CHINA MOSAIC


CEMENT TILE




IMPORTED TILE





© Museum House of Goa
All rights reserved.