Ritu Beri reimagined this 200-year-old Goan villa as a cultural living space

When Ritu Beri unveils a new venture, you can rest assured it is backed by decades of creative experience and a distinctly personal vision. With ESCAPE, the internationally-celebrated designer, who has made North Goa her home base, has introduced the sunshine state to a space that feels less like a venue and more like a living cultural address.

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Since opening its door in December 2024, ESCAPE has occupied a restored 200-year-old Portuguese villa in Bardez. A single glance at its striking red-and-white façade set dramatically against paddy fields is enough to extend the belief that it is something beyond the ordinary. Inside, heritage architecture meets sculptural accents, curated artworks and richly layered interiors that reflect Beri’s unmistakable sense of drama. For the 53-year-old fashion maven, the project marks a shift from designing garments to shaping an ambiance. “I wanted to build a place where style is not confined to clothing; it is in the atmosphere, the music, the food, the art and the people," she says.

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That philosophy is the foundation on which the renewed Socorro villa stands. Rather than separating retail, dining and social spaces, ESCAPE allows them to flow naturally into one another. The idea, Beri explains, was to create an environment that feels intuitive rather than transactional; somewhere guests can explore at their own pace, discovering new textures, flavours and artistic expressions as they move from room to room. Guests can browse a carefully-curated selection of resort wear, jewellery, accessories and lifestyle pieces — including Beri’s own creations alongside work by emerging designers and artisans — before moving to the baroque-esque bar area set with chandeliers and framed vintage artwork. From there, they can proceed into the patio, the winding staircase area where a red palette is the highlight or open-aired seating where cocktails, music and conversation take over and turn the evening into the night.

As daylight fades, the villa begins to take on a different rhythm. Afternoons stretch into golden evenings, and gatherings unfold across the property’s many spaces. At its epicentre is a dramatic stone Baoli amphitheatre, an architectural highlight that now serves as a stage for performances, intimate dinners and curated cultural events beneath the open sky. The result? A setting that feels both, glamorous and welcoming; where fashion, food, art and conversation share equal importance. It is, in many ways, a reflection of Beri herself and her evolution over the past three decades.

"I wanted to build something that feels like stepping into a living mood board," she says simply — words that capture the intention behind the project.

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