DOWN BY THE RIVER

In the lap of nature, a filmmaker's dream home in an idyllic North Goan village comes to life with building blocks of light and breeze, crafted by Ini Chatterji and design studio VAN

- KUNAL BHATIA

“It was quite in the boonies!” exclaims filmmaker Shirsha Guha Thakurta as she recalls the initial time when she purchased land in the island-village of Calvim, near Aldona in North Goa. Although barely anyone had heard of this location, its verdant setting by the banks of a winding river and surrounded by fields proved idyllic for her forever home.

She yearned to be close to nature, languidly napping in the sultry breeze, or hopping out on a rowboat at the drop of a hat. To materialise these visions, she brought on board veteran architect Ini Chatterji, who conceived the project with his signature contemporary tropical sensibilities.