Homes
Before/After: A chapel and a chickoo tree inspires the restoration of a century-old Goan villa by Ariane Thakore Ginwala and Field Atelier
JAN 11, 2025 | By Chiransha Prasad
From the apple that fell on Newton’s head to water falling out of Archimedes’ bathtub, history proves that inspiration strikes in the strangest ways. However, a clear dilemma arises when one looks at Quitula House, a 160-year-old villa nestling in Aldona.
The Goan town brims with multiple sources of picturesque inspiration. Which one was Ariane Thakore Ginwala’s eureka moment for bringing the property to life? Bite into the home’s ochre yellow walls, and it reveals mocha-hued accents and exposed wood beams — rather like the seeds of a Chikoo tree ripening in its courtyard. A pristine white chapel pierces the air close by, as golden fields sprawl at its heels.
This sepia-tinged paradise is a sum total of all these beautiful parts, its age-old architecture brought to life in collaboration with Teja Amonkar and Yatin Fulari of the Goa-based firm Field Atelier.
A family affair
A sweeping glance at the carefully curated interiors exposes the sentiment underlying them. Ariane affirms the same, sharing, “I was very passionate about this house. It has a special place in my heart.” And how could it not? Even prior to its restoration, years of decay and damage failed to diminish its underlying charm.
The Portuguese villa is family-owned, purchased years ago by Ariane’s father Kiran Thakore. His words brim with unmistakable pride as he states, “This is the second property of mine that Ariane has restored in Goa. She had already imagined what this would be like in her mind through the years we owned it.” True to her vision and her father’s wishes, the home’s old-world allure takes centre stage against a sea of contemporary side characters. The balcão remains as it was, the arched windows still welcome the same view, but careful ship-shaping fills the space’s bones with renewed vigour.
Something old, something borrowed
The intent behind the restoration was not to hide the villa’s timeworn bones but to polish them further. It forsakes gloss and embraces texture. Chipped paint, wooden grooves — the lime-plastered walls and teal pillars refuse to sand down marks left by its predecessors and time.
In the same vein, a mix of bespoke and vintage furniture decorates the interiors. Coated with an antique finish, their weathered look adheres to the home’s age-old appearance.
Whilst the monochrome palette lets the architecture shine, Ariane adds interest through material interventions. The bespoke furniture flaunts intricate cane work, as sculptural paper lights and lamps illuminate the space. Striking black-and-white photographs moodily peer from the walls. The Kota grey flooring extends outwards and indoors, interrupted by a sea of pebbles at the foot of the Chikoo tree in the middle.
The villa is an extension of its sleepy-eyed, tranquil surroundings. In an endeavour that is all heart, Ariane and Field Atelier create a space true to its roots, yet inspired by the era it currently inhabits. Down by the chapel, their collaborative efforts have granted it a new lease on life.
Scroll down for more glimpses of the villa after restoration…
Welcome to ELLE DECOR India’s new series #EDBeforeAfter where inspiring space transformations give every design savant a reason to bookmark it and refresh their own living coves.
