Address: | Steenweg 20 |
Year Built: | 1916 |
Open to Public: | No |
Ownership: | private |
Amador Laclé Residence * 1916
Category: Oranjestad
In 1916, businessman Adriaan Laclé built this monumental townhouse on Steenweg, in the former merchant quarter between Wilhelminastraat and Nassaustraat, now Caya G.F. Betico Croes. When Adriaan Laclé’s son, Amadeo (‘Amador’) Laclé went to live in the house after his father died, the house got its popular name as the Amador Laclé residence.
The inspiration for the impressive front entrance clearly came from the 1888 Public School building on Wilhelminastraat 6, featuring classic elements, like the triangular pediment, the columns and the cornice. The radiating skylights are filled with colorful panes of glass.
In the back, on Van Walbeeckstraat, there is another building linked to the one on Steenweg, supposedly built by architect Dada Picus. It has a different architecture.
In 1960, the family rented the residential house in the front to the Aruba Social Insurance bank, the SVB, and continued living in the house in the back. Local people from those days simply refer to the house as ‘former-SVB’.
The house was sold in 1978 and is in a bad state. Rooms are rented individually or occupied by homeless people . . .
This classic dwelling deserves to be restored to the gem it once was . . .