The Silva House

It is not for nothing that the house of Eurico Santana de Silva is called The house with seven gables. Even with four out of the original seven gables demolished you can still see them in your mind’s eye as you look up. The house is as if it is riding high. The three remaining gables touch Borda’s azure skies as the house built to the contour lines climbs on its own steam from one level to another with an ease that beguiles its mass. The main entrance sports Baroque features over its door head and the simplicity of the front facade of the house introduces you to what lies within. A wide open staircase takes you up to and into the family chapel that is perhaps one of the finest examples of Baroque and Rococo art executed in the late phase. A Phase when the dark days of the Inquisition were over. And a proclamation by the marquis de Pombal declaring all subjects of the Crown to be equal irrespective of their colour, caste or country of origin had given an impetus to an emerging Goan identity.

It must have given this house renewed vigour. The reception sala is filled with Baroque furniture carved by Goan craftsmen. But, surprise of surprises – the wall paper effect done with stencils on the wall has been done not more than a few years ago. Narrow balconies were then created to allow for the fresh sea breeze to bring in their health-giving properties – To allow members of a household the freedom to take the air without once stirring out of their houses, To allow an inward-looking society to change, gradually and surely, into an outward-looking one. So, the next time you go the Borda, you are going to get it out of the house.