WILLEMSTAD – It was a beautiful surprise to see the Sebastopol House being prepared for restauration.

This merchant’s mansion was built in the middle of the 18th century. It has several characteristics of the Curaçao baroque architecture. This building has 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 building 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 the older buildings 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.