http://www.goanarchitecture.blogspot.com/
Extract:
Goa is a little state on the west coast of India. It is popular as a
tourist destination for its sandy beaches and whitewashed churches and
colourful temples. In this blog we will journey through the nooks and
corners of this 3702 sqkm state and discover its varied architecture. I am
a civil engineer based in Goa and I never cease to be fascinated by the
charm of my own land, truly a tiny piece of paradise.
The saga of architecture in Goa has travelled from rustic 'khomps' (huts of
coconut thatchwork), rammed earth 'matiechim ghoram', temples built with
rock slabs, Neo-Roman churches, Portuguese period 'solars', Art Deco
houses, modernist buildings and back to 'green' homes! All these and other
genres are still well preserved in the Goan countryside and cities. Rather
than plod studiously through a linear path of architectural history, we
will ramble randomly here and there and enjoy the fruits of serendipity.
Our first house is a little rammed earth home at Borim in Ponda taluka.
Barely a couple of rooms with a tiny verandah, this house is striking for
the beautiful hue and texture of its red earth walls. Rammed earth
construction has been practised all over the world for thousands of years.
In its simplest form, wooden planks are laid parallel on the ground and
earth is rammed into this basic formwork. The soil is rammed by wooden
poles or by feet. The earth sets hard and the form is then lifted to fill
and ram the next course. Modern day RE construction uses highly precise
plywood formwork and a cement-stabilised earth mix. Popular in Western
Australia and other areas in Europe and the US, this modern avatar is yet
to take off in Goa.
The outlines of the wooden forms are visible on the wall surface. The
surface cracks are due to the clay content in the soil mix. A careful blend
of sand, silt and clay can prevent cracks. Over the years, weathering
produces a nice, rough texture.
More on this beautiful technique and the centuries old RE houses in Goa in
later posts.
Cheers
José Lourenço
