Taj Cidade De Goa Heritage Resort

Studio IV Designs brings Charles Correa’s 43-year-old Cidade De Goa Resort into the 21st century through a sensitive balance of redesign and restoration

Originally designed in 1982, Correa’s Cidade de Goa was conceived as a traditional Portuguese hamlet—marked by interconnected rooms, intimate courtyards, and narrow pathways that wound through the property like a street. When Studio IV Designs was brought on board for the redesign in 2020, much of this spirit had been lost to time, ad-hoc interventions, and climate challenges. The studio’s approach focuses on restoring this spirit through an independent, layered interior narrative that reflects Goa’s Indo-Portuguese heritage while upgrading the resort for modern hospitality.

Restoring and Strengthening Charles Correa’s Vision
Key architectural elements such as the chequered Rue de Sol flooring, Jaisalmer marble lobby floors, and the original otla seating are restored and reframed with contextually relevant material and colour. Portuguese references are introduced throughout the interiors—from the Azulejos-inspired blue tiles and patterns, to hand-painted ceiling details and custom furniture details reminiscent of 1940s Goan-Portuguese homes. Murals by Vijay Bhandari, originally commissioned by Correa, are not only restored but also supplemented with newer murals by the same artist to enhance interior storytelling.

Designing Guest Rooms to Evoke Goa’s Indo-Portuguese Heritage
Across 91 redesigned rooms, Studio IV Designs introduces three distinct colour palettes—earth orange, green, and Mediterranean blue—each rooted in local references like laterite soil, Indo-Portuguese homes, and Fontainhas’ iconic hues. Floors are anchored by custom motifs on the room signages—Sun of Cidade, Rooster, Lion, Ixora—conceptualised by the studio and hand-drawn by a local artist on ceramic tiles which are then baked, strengthening the connection to the place while supporting the local economy.

Improving Climate Response
Climate resilience and longevity are key: skylights were redesigned to restore natural light, alfresco areas were adapted for year-round use, and outdoor-grade materials were used across semi-open zones.

Every intervention blends functionality with storytelling, allowing the interiors to speak of craft, context and cultural continuity.

Design: Studio IV Designs
Design Team: Vandana Dhawan Saxena, Kanak Yadav, Ananya Goel, Ashish Jain, Manish Maurya
Landscape Consultants: Studio ATK
Interior Contractor: Raghbir International & Vishal Contractors
Artwork: Hitesh Pankar & Vijay Bhandari
Photography: Studio Noughts and Crosses