Address: | Schelpstraat 42 |
Year Built: | 1929 |
Open to Public: | Yes |
Ownership: | Government of Aruba |
Green Ecury House * 1929
Category: Oranjestad
This protected monument in the center of Oranjestad was built in 1929 by Architect Merdardo ‘Dada’ Picus. The property got the nickname ‘Cas Ecury’ because it had been the family home of the S.N. Ecury family for many years.
The Ecury Complex, the buildings on Schelpstraat 40-42-44, are the former homes of merchant Segundo Nicasio Ecury, commonly known as Dundun. The trade house S.N. Ecury represented Ford motorcars and Goodrich tires, was agent of several firms in refrigerators and radios and much, much more.
The center piece of this complex, the two-story green building, is the last one Ecury built, in 1929. The oldest is the low cunucu house to the right of the green one. It dates back to the second half of the 19th century.

Ecury family, early 30s
As the Ecury family was extending, – when 10 of the 13 children were born – the need for a bigger house was felt. The next and last addition to the Ecury Complex was constructed in 1929 to the left of the low cunucu house, with two floors and – again – richely decorated. Caribbean style woodcarvings and colorful leaded windows make this building one of the most beautiful of Oranjestad, known as ‘Cas Ecury’, the Ecury House.
It now is the entrance to the new, modern archaeological museum of Aruba which is built at the back of the 1929 house. It was inaugurated in 2009.
In the back of the Ecury complex building, there is one of the most beautiful gardens of the island, with large fruit trees, giving a lot of shade and keeping the inside of the buildings cool. There is even a pond with fish in it.
The low cunucu house to the left of the green 1929 house is the oldest building of the Ecury complex. It dates back to the second half of the 19th century and was later acquired by Dundun Ecury. It is generally know as the ‘Fruteria’, a store selling fruits which was established there for many years.
The restoration was conducted on the initiative of the Archaeological Museum and ‘Monumentenbureau Aruba’ (Monument Office Aruba) and was funded by the European Union. The restoration architect was Studio Bichara and the renovation management was conducted by ir. B. Kamsteeg of BK Consult.
Currently the property serves as the entrance, exhibition space and office of the Archeological Museum.