Description
Lorenzo de Windt, Shon Lou, bought this plot in 1903. He replaced a derelict building and used the new structure as storage for his hat business. Later, he established a fabric store here named ‘La Moda de Paris’, which his sons, Eusebio and Ezikito, ran from 1936 until the 1990s. They also operated a successful tailor shop under the same name at Consciëntiesteeg 70. Meanwhile, their sisters ran a grocery store in the building across the street.
Eventually, the family rented out the space to David Mandelbaum, who opened the fabric store ‘El Diamante’ there. After ‘El Diamante’ closed, the building became vacant and fell into disrepair. The façade became unstable and had to be propped up, and access to the alleyway was closed to the public.
In November 2020, during a heavy rainy season, the façade collapsed. The heirs of the De Windt family sold the property to Stichting Monumentenzorg Curaçao, which stabilized the building immediately. It now awaits its next chapter.
Name of property:
‘La Moda de Paris’
Characteristics:
Two-story corner structure covered with a hipped roof. Front façade with plain cornice and a frieze with the shop name ‘La Moda de Paris’ in plasterwork. Interior with staircase to wooden gallery following the interior walls on the first floor.
Monument value:
Architectural historical and cultural-historical value because of a.o. the characteristic late-19th century façade with the shop name and typical interior shop gallery. Specific value as part of a protected monumental townscape.
Construction period:
Not listed in the Register of Monuments
REGISTER OF LISTED HERITAGE
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