The site for Arthshila Goa had the presence of an old Goan house. The house was not in good shape, but we resisted our initial instinct to demolish the structure in favour of a light, prefabricated addition that can revitalise the old structure. The new proposed programme was a multi-arts space that included a gallery, a small library, administrative and storage functions, a multi-use workshop space and a cafe.

We did not want the new structure to be imposing, and a decision was taken to retain the original roof height and inclination in the process of redesign. Working closely with the structural engineer, we evolved a strategy where a prefabricated lightweight steel structure is added as an insert, thereby utilising the beautiful thick walls of the old house and creating a striking contrast in the process of adaptive reuse.