ANCHORED BY AIR

Nestled between sprawling salt pans and dense mangroves, this villa in Goa by We Design Studio is a thoughtful exploration of volume, vernacular, and visual continuity

- TEXT BY VAISHNAVI NAYEL TALAWADEKAR PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISHITA SITWALA

Two years ago, architects Saahil Parikh and Nupur Shah set foot on a plot of land in the Goan village of Agarvado - and were instantly captivated. "The land was completely untouched," recalls Saahil. But it was equally wild. "Our first site visit took place during the monsoon, and the terrain was remarkably marshy. I remember struggling to walk across it. By the time we were done, our feet and shoes were caked in thick mud right up to our ankles. Cleaning up took some effort," adds the co-founder of the Mumbai-based We Design Studio, who went on to clear not just his footwear, but, in time, the spectacular surrounding quagmire as well.

Tucked away on a storybook estate spanning ten acres, the site lay cradled between the Chapora River and an expanse of mangroves, its surface dotted with three man-made salt pans. Completing the setting with a villa just as idyllic, then, was a challenge that called for sensitivity over spectacle.

If nature laid the groundwork, the law laid the blueprint for order. Because there were stringent regulations limiting the built-up area of the home, the architects took a prudent approach, distilling the design philosophy of the 6,000 sq ft villa - comprising five bedrooms and six bathrooms - into a manner that put the landscape first.