The scaffolding is already in place.
WILLEMSTAD--The Sebastopol House in Curaçao is being prepared for restoration.
This merchant’s mansion was built in the middle of the 18th century. It has several characteristics of the island’s traditional architecture.
The building always maintained its residential function. In the 19th century the upper and ground floors were divided and a separate entrance to the upper dwelling was built at the corner of the front façade.
The structure has the unusual feature of two adjoining gables in front. Both gables are lightly curved in the18th century baroque style and have small curls (volutes) at the lower ends.
Like with the older monuments at Molenplein, the rear façades are more simply executed. Quite distinctive are the several pear-shaped embellishments on the various gable tops.
The core of the building is enclosed by a gallery at three sides. On the ground floor the front gallery is formed by a partially open series of arches. The first-floor gallery was closed by louvred shutters in a later period.
