In Conversation With Devika Martins...
Devika Martins is a Restoration Specialist and founder of Martins Group LLP. Born and raised in Goa, Devika is passionate about, and committed to, saving heritage properties in her home town. She majored in renovation and historic preservation at the University of Florence. I think I know her well enough now to say, she is wise beyond her years, strong, spirited and means serious business!
Tell us something that was unique and interesting about growing up in Goa? When we were kids my parents discontinued our cable TV. So we grew up heading to football and cricket practice, music lessons and monkeying around. I wasn't a good student and I really hated school. I was usually found bunking class, on the football ground. Holidays were always exciting, they were filled with buying lots of Enid Blyton books (the Gingerbread Man was my favourite) and reading them, beach days, sand castles, weekend photography trips (sometimes even waking up as early as 5am to catch a sunrise at Cabo), swimming and heading to my grandmother's house near the Carambolim lake. My mom and dad were very involved parents, they drove us to practice, always attended every football game we played and made sure we were kept busy and out of mischief (I'm still scared of my mom, lol).
When and how did you decide to pursue Restoration?
I think it started off from these weekend photo trips that we used to do as kids. My dad and uncle gave us cameras and we had to shoot a project. At this time i was fascinated with Goa's shell windows. I remember those days so clearly, i was a random teenager, clicking people's windows and they come out and tell me not to photograph their house. So the best time was 3 in the afternoon, when everyone was at siesta, haha. Little did I know that I would go on and study restoration, and make a career out of it.
What was your first Restoration project in Goa?
It was a run down house that I did in late 2016, it took me 5 months to restore. A lime plaster interior and a concrete exterior(I still find it hard to convince clients to go 100% lime). But this was a house not looking to be lived in, and the owner only wanted me to help it stay up, instead of falling apart. An interesting thing about this project was, I was cheated by the contractor I hired to get this done. And this experience helped me to push myself to get into turnkey projects myself, instead of just overlooking and consulting.
Goa is quite possibly the most favourite holiday destination of all Indians, and there has been an increased interest in Goa, by Indians from every State ever since the Pandemic began, How would you like to see the Community in Goa grow?
We have been getting a ton of Indians from all over the country with so much to offer in Goa. Because of this, one example would be how the food industry has really popped. We have some great restaurants and home bakers who have really brought so much quality to our food scene here in Goa. Also, how just about anyone can run an AirBnB with little investment if you already own a place in Goa. I hope this gives Goa a chance to have better organised festivals, like the Serendipity Arts and the Grape Escapade or Film Festivals. Goa should make an effort to be known for its Art & Culture more than its beaches and parties.
Any advice to those seeking to make Goa home?
Please be sensitive to our culture and our people. Figure how to correctly pronounce places, beaches and restaurant names. Also, learning a bit of Konkani will always be a plus point to getting us to love you ;)
If you could work on a collaborative project in Goa, what would it be and who would you have on your dream team?
So I have been a fan of the Postcard Hotels for quite sometime now. Love the way they have invested in Heritage houses all across Goa. They have also tied up with locals for Goan experiences for their guests when they stay over at their properties. I am really looking forward to doing a project with them... not sure when that will happen. But let's see, fingers crossed!
Changes you would like to see?
Goans taking more initiative to get things rolling in Society. Playing a bigger role in people's welfare. I'm not saying we aren’t doing our bit, we are, but it needs to be done on a bigger scale. We can’t expect our Government to do everything for us without we playing a part first. Some examples are the Save Mollem Project, The Double Tracking Railway Line (we are losing so any Heritage houses because of this), Save Old Goa. Also, hoping that our 4 cities become traffic free with better development.
Changes you hope you never see? I feel the damage has already been done. But I really wish Fontainhas remains the way it is now. I hope it doesn’t become commercial. It will lose all its' charm.
Devika's Favourites...
Beach
Kakolem Beach, South Goa Goa Landscape/Greenscape
St Estevam! On the 26th of December is the Feast of St Esteves, my paternal Grandmothers village, when the extended family catch up over lunch. In the evening, all of us go on a stroll to the village, and there’s this place at the Christ Statue on the hill, it feels amazing up there. The view! It brings me back to the best memories of my childhood. Food Specialists
Avinash Martins (Not my relative haha), I love his take on Goan fusion cuisines. He and his wife Tiz, have been really good, and they’re very experimental. Bakeries/Patisseries/Chocolatiers
Larder & Folk by Priyanka Sardesai, Paris Pao by Sid Gogel, Babka by Raj Goa Tipple
Nero! (fresh cashew juice) I don’t drink alcohol, never ever started actually :P Property other than your own home
Cabo Serai! Its been a while since I last went there. It's on the Cabo do Rama beach and done by Architect Ini Chatterji Haven’t met Mr Chatterji personally yet, but he is my favourite architect. Staycation
The first is The Postcard, Cuelim, South Goa. Especially the TB Cunha Suite, from which all you can see are fields and the farmers going about doing their thing.The Postcard, Netravali has just opened up and the set up is very relaxing. And finally Prainha by the Sea at Dona Paula, a charming boutique hotel on a small, private beach. I love the fact that you don't get any network and because their WiFi sucks too, this is one place that actually allows me to disconnect!) Favourite movie or Novel based in Goa?
Sea Wolves! My mom and her siblings and her dad were characters in the movie since my Grandfather owned a Baby Doll car. Which is now in a Museum in Pune or Kolhapur (I'm not very sure). My grandfather made many German friends, and I'm the third generation to still visit them in Germany when i get the chance to (only 1 is alive). It's based on the book Boarding Party by James Leasor.
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