In Goa, dine amidst ruins of a Portuguese villa at this restaurant by Kiasma Studio and W Design Studio

Rebirth of ruins. This reasonably fantastical combination of words shapes the pulse of Sanctuary Bar & Kitchen in Goa, which exists quite literally amidst the ruins of a 200-year old Portuguese villa. While the restaurant’s appearance could seem to be a case of architectural serendipity, its intention is simple. To repurpose its ancient, natural landscape for diners to experience the restaurant beyond its menu. To witness moments of built and unbuilt flavours. 

Designed by Gokul Krishna of W Design Studio with Kiasma Studio’s Sowmya Lakhamraju, the heart of Sanctuary thus became the historical ruins strung together with the teeming flora around. Blanketing an area of 26,000 sq ft from open-to-sky sit-outs to a bamboo-outfitted alfresco bar dubbed ‘Ruin Bar’, every turn and stop here appears as though plucked out from a cinematic frame. 

Palatial yet primitive in character, the restaurant in many phases reveals antique wooden doors and stone sculptures, while the trees’ roots, branches and greens drape the landscape like nature’s own ornaments. “We emphasised the villa’s historical character by retaining key architectural features such as the soaring ceilings and intricate wooden beams,” states Gokul, also revealing that about fifty percent of the land was left untouched to allow the once-decrepit structure to meld with nature and its new identity.

With a carefully paved cobbled pathway that meanders indoors, the pockets of outdoors stand in quietude crafted with natural stone and leftover wastage from internal flooring. “The team retained most of the original trees and planted around 7,000 additional plants to enhance the natural environment. Construction was done around the villa’s ruins, respecting the original structure and allowing nature to blend seamlessly with the architecture,” explains Sowmya. 

As one wanders into the restaurant’s depths, another 150-year old restored villa opens up into different rooms, hosting diners across an indoor bar and intimate dining sections. What’s intriguing is pairing this sensorial, architectural journey with cosmopolitan cocktails and recipes like Xacuti Crab Cakes and Cauliflower Steak from the kitchen helmed by Masterchef Australia fame and restaurateur Sarah Todd. 

In breezy white and hues of brown, a wisely sketched out 40-seater cabana contoured by nature exemplifies a certain yearning for staying closer to nature while not forgoing leisure and indulgence. The soft, enigmatic demeanour of the restaurant declares the need to create a space so timeless that it takes you back to the past in the blink of an eye. What emerges then is an intimate yet sprawling sanctuary perched on the stretches of North Goa, reciting the architectural beauty of what lies in history and in the rebirth of it. 

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