Historic Water Tanks at Kibaima to Get a New Future as a Knowledge and Heritage Center
On Wednesday, September 16, the Government of Aruba and Stichting Monumentenfonds Aruba (SMFA) signed the transfer agreement for the Kibaima Water Tanks, as well as a cooperation agreement for the restoration project. This marks an important step toward the preservation and adaptive reuse of this industrial monument in Kibaima. Following restoration, the tanks will be given a new purpose as the Knowledge and Heritage Center of the National Archives of Aruba (ANA).
The plan to give the reservoirs a new purpose began several years ago. Prior to 2020, SMFA, together with BOEi from the Netherlands and students from Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, initiated research into various possibilities for the future use of the monument. Several options were explored, but a concrete new purpose began to take shape after the National Archives of Aruba approached Monumentenfonds while searching for a new location.
The National Archives of Aruba plans to establish a Knowledge and Heritage Center at the site. The center will provide space for, among other things, research, education, documentation, conservation, and the presentation of Aruba’s history and heritage. In this way, a site that was once essential to Aruba’s water supply will receive a new social function focused on knowledge, history, and development.
Project to Be Carried Out in Several Phases
Stichting Monumentenfonds Aruba’s project manager, Jennilee Schotborgh, will oversee the restoration project. The project will consist of several phases and is scheduled for completion in 2029.
The first phase has already begun. Since last year, the various requirements of the National Archives of Aruba have been studied. During the second phase, a specialist team will be selected to develop the design for the project. The team will include, among others, an architect and experts in construction and restoration, who will be responsible for developing the design through three stages.
Throughout the design process, careful consideration will need to be given to preserving the historic elements of the monument, while also addressing the technical requirements and conditions necessary to transform the interior into an archive and knowledge center. Finally, a contractor will be selected to carry out the restoration works.
History of the Kibaima Water Tanks
The historic water tanks at Kibaima represent an important part of the history of Aruba’s potable water supply. The first two reservoirs were constructed in 1931 and 1932 by the Land Water Supply Service (Landwatervoorzieningsdienst) as part of the development of a modern water supply system for the island. Two additional reservoirs were added in 1941 and 1942.
The Kibaima Water Tanks are significant not only for their cultural and historical value, but also for their architectural and technical importance. Together with the water towers of Oranjestad and San Nicolas and the water reservoir at Rancho, they serve as tangible reminders of the development of Aruba’s water distribution system.
Through this adaptive reuse project, the reservoirs will once again become an active part of the community. Where the tanks once fulfilled an essential role in meeting one of Aruba’s most basic needs—water—in the future they will become a place dedicated to knowledge, history, education, and heritage.
Stichting Monumentenfonds Aruba extends its gratitude to the Government of Aruba, the National Archives of Aruba, WEB Aruba, Smart Community, and FCCA for their trust and cooperation in making the transfer possible. Together, we can preserve the past for the future!
