About The First House
The then Portuguese Consul to the British colony of Aden (now a part of Yemen), Luis Jose de S. Lourençe Mendonca, built the original house on the property called “Canteira” (meaning flower beds) in 1896. The family continued living in the house till 1996.
In 2004, it was sold to Darryl Pereira, who restored and renovated the neglected structure, using elements of Indo-Portuguese architecture.
Being environmentally conscious, Darryl setup the energy, waste and water systems in a way that became examples of sustainable living.
In 2020, Darryl sold the house to Rakhee and Rakesh Shah, who had moved to Guirim, Goa from Mumbai.
They shared the same passion for the Goan house and instantly fell in love with the property.
Having led life in a fast paced entrepreneurial environment, they decided that it was time to stop and enjoy the Goan pace of life and hence The First House project was conceived.
They put in a lot of effort to renovate it and bring it up to standards of a luxury villa with all the mod cons, whilst retaining its original splendour and charm. Their personal touch can be seen all though, giving The First House it’s warmth and welcoming feeling.
About Saligao
The Portuguese modified the original name of the village from Salgaon to Saligao. Sal meaning wooded forest and gao meaning village. Saligao – a wooded village with an abundance of fruit bearing trees and various other plants.
It is surrounded by the villages of Parra, Calangute, Pilerne, Sangolda, Guirim and Nagoa and is one of the more prosperous villages of Goa. The architectural aesthetics of Saligao today, reflect the creative style of some of the renowned artists of Goa who have chosen to live and enjoy the village lifestyle.