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36 LOCAL NEWS AWEMainta Diabierna, 29 September 2023

Uncle Louis Store Wins Audience Award

at ‘Erfgoed Duurzaamheidsprijs 2023’

ON September 28th, Stichting Monumentenfonds Aruba

received the delightful news that Uncle Louis Store had won
the audience award at the ‘Erfgoed Duurzaamheidsprijs
2023’ (Heritage Sustainability Award 2023), presented by
the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed (National Cultural

Heritage Service), in collaboration with the Nationaal
Restauratiefonds and Nederland Monumentenland.

In the Netherlands, the winners received their awards from

State Secretary Gunay Uslu. The Tuighuis monument in Den
Bosch won in the ‘business’ ‘ category, while the Huub van
Oorschot residence in Culemborg clinched the award in the
“private’ ‘ category.

Uncle Louis Store’s project represents a significant mile-
stone as it is the only monument from Aruba to compete
alongside forty-two other monuments in the Netherlands.

Thanks to the active voting participation of the public, this
achievement was made possible.

Uncle Louis Store, a monument built in 1951, is currently

the most sustainable monument in Aruba. Various sustain-
ability measures have been applied to the building. To begin
with, reusing an existing building is inherently a sustainable
measure. During restoration, the original tiles were discov-

ered and re-used. Solar panels were installed to mechani-
cally cool the building.

Additionally, condensation water from the mechanical in terms of sustainability measures, especially concerning

system is collected and reused for flushing the toilets and monument areas. Materials are often more expensive and
watering plants in the garden. The entire building features harder to come by. Restoration followed Aruba’s restoration
LED lighting, and double-glazed windows were installed guidelines, which, in contrast to the Netherlands, are some-
within the original wooden louvre windows for temperature times less strict.

control.
All of this emphasizes the need for creativity when dealing
Recycled plastic panels were used for insulation and privacy with sustainable restoration. Stichting Monumentenfonds
near the windows. In terms of social sustainability, artists Aruba is very proud of the results of the Uncle Louis Store

were allowed to use the building in the heart of San Nicolas project, which also serves as an example for other projects
during its vacant period before the restoration, leaving like Steenweg 19 and soon, Cas Veneranda.
some parts of the building as a reminder of that period.
Accessibility for disabled individuals, with an emphasis on SMFA is very proud of these achievements for Aruba and

visually impaired individuals, was addressed. The interior is grateful to everyone who participated in this project:
was created in an “open office” concept to provide more Directorate of Nature and Environment, Archiosa N.V., Van
space and stimulate contact and cooperation among the Kessel Havenbouw N.V., RBC Royal Bank (Aruba), FAVI,
employees of the Directorate of Nature and Environment. Ateliers 89, Uncle Louis’ family, the Nisbet family, SMFA’s

team, and the Aruban community, who voted and demon-
This project faced its challenges, as Aruba sometimes lags strated how proud we are of our monuments.