A Café-Bar in North Goa has been designed with a difference retaining the appearance of an old rice mill!
Located in the heart of Morjim village in North Goa stands the recent restoration project and F&B venture- The Rice Mill Cafe-Bar. The structure of the cafe-bar, with its exposed laterite walls, old art deco grills, wooden trusses and Mangalore tiled roof was originally built in 1955 and functioned as a rice mill.
Over the years, subsequent to the shutting down of the mill, as the decades passed by and tenants shifted hands, the mill underwent several modifications. Wooden trusses were concealed by a gypsum false ceiling, oxide flooring was covered with vitrified tiles, mud plastered walls were coated with gloss paint, and the nostalgic charm of the old rice mill was lost.
The abandoned corner structure located at the busy Morjim junction, made the perfect setting for the contemporary Goan cafe-bar. The concept of the ‘Cafe-Bar’ is inspired by the two most popular centres of culinary and social interaction in Goa – the cafe and the bar. The design for the café- bar, revives and restores all the elements that once lent the rice mill its old world charm, and strives to be an example of conservation of our built heritage.
The 100 sq. café- bar accommodates a kitchen and its herb garden, washrooms, a bar, an indoor seating area and a verandah. The structural additions are synonymous with the existing distressed walls, the roof is interjected with glass tiles allowing natural light to flood in, and several items of furniture have either been sourced from local Goan carpenters or constructed from recycled wood. Indoor plants breathe life into the space while items of utility from the old rice mill become elements of décor in the café-bar.
