ABSTRACT
The vernacular architecture of the 'landhuizen' of Curacao, an island in the Caribbean sea, shows how apparently simple constructions are built in fact in a well-considered manner, answering the challenges of the local environment and meeting the needs of the inhabitants. All traditional buildings at Curacao always had a problem: a high salt load in the wall constructions, leading to salt efflorescence and some limited crystallization damage, visible on both internal and external plasters. The traditional architecture has a monumental status and the old town of Willemstad is qualified as UNESCO world heritage. The traditional local architecture has adjusted to these environmental conditions with very effective solutions to face the heat and the shortage of water. Part of the buildings concerned is nowadays qualified as UNESCO world heritage. In the 20th century, materials were developed aiming to be more durable than the traditional ones and these reached also the island.
