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Bajonetstraat 18 / 20

Function: housing

                                       Before                                                                                                    After


This neoclassical town villa, formerly known as 'Klein Cathagena' (Small Carthagena), was built by Hendrik August Statius Muller in 1871. The house is situated in the so-called 'Stegengebied' (Alley Area) in the southwestern part of Otrobanda.

The symmetrical façade, the serrated blocks on the corners and the molded cornice are typical of the neoclassical building style on Curacao in the second half of the 19th century.

Originally the two-storied mansion was constructed as a single-family home. In time, however, the two floors became separate dwellings. At the rear of the yard there was an outbuilding consisting of a bathroom and a washing quarter next to a large cistern.

When Stadsherstel bought the property in 1994 the buildings were in rather bad state of repairs. Consequently the restoration took place in 1996. The former townhouse and the outbuilding were divided into eight apartments. These have been rented out for several years originally to the Sint Elisabeth Hospital and since 2007 to the Sint Martinus University.