Syntactic Analyssis of Spatial Configuration in Indo-Portuguese Houses in Goa

Abstract

The culture of a place can be understood by analysing its architecture and vice versa. Each place has a unique culture and hence a unique architectural style. Vernacular architecture is a perfect example for displaying the culture of that place, as it is built based on the culture of that place. However, the culture of a place can be changed or altered when it comes in contact with another culture. The degree and dominance of one culture over another, purely depend on the sextent to which both the cultures have acculturated. Hence, vernacular architecture which is a reflection of culture also has a natural tendency to change and to accommodate changes and is flexible, adaptable and hence sustainable. There are many factors that lead to a cross-cultural composition like trade links, colonisation, and westernisation etc. among which colonisation plays a major role in the creation ofa new culture in the coastal stretch of India. Goa is one such perfect example where cross-cultural miscegenation is seen due to Portuguese colonisation. This paper aims in understanding and evaluating the cross-cultural amalgamation which is reflected in Indo-Portuguese houses through a study and analysis of four case examples in Goa using space syntax.