Fact File
Location: Goa
Size: 2325 sq m
Principal Designers: Ameet Mirpuri and Prem Mirpuri
Photographs courtesy: Ameet Mirpuri

Felicitas by Ameet Mirpuri is a 2300-square-metre earthy villa interspersed with luxurious amenities that seamlessly integrates the lush environment of a Goan hillside into its living spaces. The enchanting vistas caught our attention as we walked around this beautiful hill of a site. We wondered why, with such a beautiful view on the outside, one would even bother with a design that would draw attention away from the insides. The concept of an integrated design that seamlessly integrates the indoors and the outdoors grew from there. The end product of this idea was a breathtaking villa that brings you closer to nature as it nestles comfortably in its natural habitat. Even though the villa is set in the middle of a jungle, this feeling of indoor and outdoor spaces melting into each other could only be brought in with the introduction of landscape, while intriguing nooks and corners created surprise elements specifically for the inhabitants of this villa to enjoy. Each element was meticulously selected to create a home that exuded warmth.

The client didn’t want the space to feel like it belonged to any particular longitude or latitude. He wanted a timeless space that transcended any notion of where on the globe it was positioned. He wanted a nook where he could lose himself, a little world of his own to escape and rejuvenate. Fortuitously, that was pretty much the direction we also wanted to take after our first visit to this hill. The first part of our vision was to create a home that was connected throughout. We didn’t want a theme-based implementation, and hence decided to use a single water body to connect every area of the house. The house now has its own flowing water stream, which flows from the top of the bar area through a stainless steel art installation into a central large body with sunken seating at the mid-level. This flow then continues down a dramatic stone staircase, eventually ending in a pool that flows over the infinity edge. The soft guzzling of water throughout the house enhances the feeling of being at the heart of nature.

To make the most of the existing view, we focused our energies on building a structure with minimal visual blockades. We wanted every corner of the house to have a private, uninterrupted view and space to call its own. A lot of attention was paid to ensuring that the house blended into the existing terrain without getting lost. The striking sloping roofs flow with the land’s topography without standing out starkly. All the walls, internally and externally, were clad with carefully selected stones, tiles, and engineered wood to give the space an unparalleled feeling of earthiness. It also perfectly met our client’s first brief for the holiday home: a space for him to forget about his worries while not worrying about cleaning all day. The minimalistic interiors are studded with spurts of luxury, be it the wall finishes, the fabrics, or all the amenities of a modern-day boutique space.