Address: | Wilhelminastraat 8 |
Year Built: | 1925 |
Open to Public: | Yes |
Ownership: | Monuments Fund Aruba |
Eloy Arends House (City Hall) * 1925
Category: Oranjestad
The Eloy Arends Building, situated on Wilhelminastraat in Oranjestad, stands out as one of the most beautiful Caribbean-style houses in the area. It was originally constructed by Dr. Jacobo Eloy Arends, with architectural design by the Aruban architect Chibi Wever. The Arends family has a long history in Aruba, dating back to the mid-18th century. Renowned for their successful business endeavors, they held a prominent position on the island.
Doctor Eloy Arends, a government physician, had his stately home built in 1922 when he and his fiancée Maria Monica Laclé got engaged to be married.
Eloy Arends, inspired by the lavish building styles in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, and in Bogota, Colombia, had his architect include the Latin American Neo-Baroque influences in his new city villa. A grand stairway led to the main entrance where the porch was adorned with elegant gingerbread-style wood carvings.
As was the tradition among the well-to-do families such as the Arends family, the groom had to build a house and completely furnish the new home before his bride could see it. So in 1925, before she became Mrs. Arends, Maria Monica had to stay away from the building and could not even visit the neighborhood. Imagine!
After returning from their honeymoon Maria Monica saw the manor for the first time. The sisters of Eloy Arends had furbished the house completely while the newly-weds had been traveling.
Many a social event and festivity was held at the doctor’s residence in Wilhelminastraat. This Manor could literally be considered an open-style house, as folding walls inside the residence allowed a flexible use of indoor spaces. The house was not only the couple’s residence, but it also housed the doctor’s office and surgeon’s operating room.
In the following years, the building was used for different purposes, such as a restaurant and a political party’s headquarters. In 1986 Eloy Arends’ son Jesus, a dentist, sold the manor to the Aruba government as he couldn’t afford the maintenance of the building. He did so with the condition that it would be restored.
In 1997, restoration began, not only of the Arends residence, but also of former Hotel Colombia in the back. Both monumental buildings were linked by contrasting modern architecture featuring metal and glass, to become Oranjestad’s City Hall, including the island’s Registry Office. The main living room of the doctor’s residence became an elegant wedding room.
What a dream location!