A Soho House-like concept comes to Goa with MansionHaus. Text by Nolan Lewis; photographs by The Photoarchitects
Deliberately devoid of insignia or signage, you would wander past this 300-year-old villa’s inconspicuous gate and distinctively projecting grey roofs contrasting against white stucco walls with absolutely no knowledge of its existence. Dating back to the 1800s, this former private residence in Anjuna belongs to the family of venture builder Kezya de Bragança for close to 300 years, and is now in its second avatar as MansionHaus—a luxury private members club in league with Soho House Mumbai, Gurugram’s The Quorum, and Bengaluru’s BLVD club.
MansionHaus – What you need to know
MansionHaus: Neoclassical Architecture
As the global economy navigates its way through a post-pandemic financial crunch, we are witnessing a decline in mindless consumerism and the rise of a new discrete sustainable luxury aesthetic, as the property’s minimalist facade suggests. Yet inside, MansionHaus has nine expansive suites, five of which are standalone, each annexed to a mineral-infused quartz pool and lush landscapes to create an immersive experience. From sourcing wood recovered from the deck of a distressed ship off the coast of Alan, original Portuguese floor tiles brought in from Lisbon, intricate wall mouldings and distressed surfaces, porcelain floors, and neutral muted fabrics accented by eclectic art–all the material choices have a strong cultural and historical significance. To ensure a safe stay, guests are assured a contactless journey throughout their stay—beginning from the check-in process, service requests, right through to a paperless check-out.
MansionHaus: Dining by Design
What sets the culinary experience at MansionHaus apart is that much of its food philosophy is gleaned by reverse ageing expert David Sinclair and physician Dr Mark Hyman’s biohacking tenets: organic food screening, metabolite profiling, vitality and microbiome analysis, and a variety of analytics for members who wish to improve their vitality and nutrient metabolism. The gastronomy of health here endeavours to establish harmony with one’s natural bionics.
The playful menu revolves around Cozinha de Goa or the cuisine of Goa that amalgamates influences from Brazil, Africa, Europe and East Asia with ingredients and techniques of Konkan-style cooking. The experiential kitchen serves as a 24-hour epicentre for the Haus, offering brasserie-style dining service all over the Mansion and the bar, The Angler; an alfresco diner called The East Garden; and the main communal, Summer Room. Members are privy to secret suppers and cooking classes with visiting food artisans and flavourists.
MansionHaus: Powerhouse and Playground
While the neoclassical architecture and the experimental menu is every epicurean’s delight, MansionHaus’ wildcard will be their roster of curated events that will be wildly attractive once the lockdown ends. The cultural programming at MansionHaus will include a speaker series to engage with some of the foremost creatives in the community. Collaborating with avant-garde galleries, museums and artists that overcame impossible odds to bring their radical artistic vision to life, the interiors will present a rotating display of works by some of the most influential artists in the community. Currently, local artist Rajesh Salgaonkar is peppering the foyer and public areas.
Kunsthalle—their communal and collaborative meeting room and an atelier for workshops, screenings, conferences, launches with permanent and flexible workspaces—attracts many digital nomads, and MansionHaus’ venture build studio, BrightHaus, collaborates with local startups to offer workspace, mentorship and finance to young entrepreneurs to support them in bringing their business ideas to life.
Suites at INR 15,000 per night.
Editor’s Note: Keeping the current situation of the pandemic in mind, T+L India recommends every reader to stay safe, and take all government-regulated precautions in case travel at this time is absolutely necessary. Please follow our stories on COVID-19 for all the latest travel guidelines.
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