The earliest settlers to Aruba built their houses with ‘caliche’, a substance found on the island, or with interlocking coral rocks, found on its shores. The shape was a simple room with small windows and a roof that rose to a peak in the center to allow heat to rise and help keep the space cool. Additions were often built side by side with similar shapes.

In Papiamento, Aruba’s local language, ‘cunucu’ is the word for ‘country’. Cunucu houses, like the Papiamento language – a combination of Spanish, Dutch, English, French and Portuguese – were once a simple and logical way to build in this land of sun and rugged terrain, that over time, have been transformed and beautified by the many people who have inhabited them.

The original wall material has been replaced by concrete; windows have been enlarged, dormers and porches have been added, and ornamentation of a national flavor has been used to personalize the home.

Click here to read more about Caribbean Architecture.