This residence in Vasco, Goa, was to become a young couple’s abode for art. The space designed had to reflect the elegant restraint of a gallery, while at the same time embody the warmth and familiarity of a home. Opolis Architects dealt with this split identity by cleaving the area into two contemporary ‘bays’ of private and public spaces, fitting in an open courtyard scheme. The exposed laterite lends the home a resolutely earthy character, which is enhanced further by the uninterrupted concrete flooring and vertical louvers made of wood. Principal architects Rahul Gore and Sonal Sancheti score high on this project because of the conscious breaks it takes in the design priorities. Everywhere, the effort to not confuse the home’s character is apparent - the art that will adorn its walls will blend into the scheme instead of seeming like conscious appendages.
