Every year May 22 is celebrated as World Biodiversity Day. In light of this occasion, we share the masterplan we developed for Hòfi Mango in Curacao—a lush and historically rich area transformed into the public park it is today.
Hòfi Mango was originally established in 1707 as Plantation Santa Cruz, the land was used for growing mangoes and sugarcane. Our client’s ambition was to make the 24-hectare area accessible to the public while generating income to support its long-term maintenance. Our plan laid the foundation for this transformation, balancing public access with preservation and sustainability.
Photography by Hòfi Mango or own archives.
Historical context
Hòfi Mango holds deep historical significance. On August 18, 1795, during the slave revolt led by Tula, around 40 to 50 enslaved people marched to the plantation Santa Cruz, joined by others from neighboring plantations. According to historical accounts (read: NAAM, Meer dan Mango, July 2020), the rebels drank a potent herbal rum to gather the courage needed to pursue their fight for freedom.
This uprising was a pivotal moment in the history of emancipation in Curaçao and the broader Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was closely tied to the Haitian Revolution led by Toussaint Louverture, which itself was inspired by the French Revolution. Louverture famously questioned: “If France stands for Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité—why not for the enslaved people of Haiti?”
Open to public
Our approach was grounded in extensive research. We studied the landscape to determine where paths, buildings, and facilities could be introduced with minimal disturbance to nature. We used the research done by Carmabi and made use of ecological and historical analyses. With the results, we designed a network of walking paths that follow the natural contours and existing green-blue infrastructure of the area.
Nature is leading within our design, even when we talk about adding buildings. In our plan we made projections for where buildings could be located based on where the natural value was lowest and therefore the impact would be the least. Our advice was not to cut down trees in order to make room for the paths or the facilities. We had advised to remove the old asphalt, which had deteriorated. We wanted to replace it with Drainphalt—a yellow, water-permeable asphalt installed over the existing foundation.
Enhance the experience
There is still a sugar mill on site, the only surviving mill on the Leeward and Windward Islands. Visitors can explore the mill or hike to the top of the hill for breathtaking views and experience the “Gateway to Nature” art installation. The stairway leading up to this view is also part of our design.
Furthermore we provided guidance on material selection for both pathways and buildings. All human-made interventions can be designed using natural-looking materials that age and weather over time, allowing the built environment to seamlessly blend into its natural surroundings and enhance the experience of the visitors of being in nature. With the development of new buildings on the site, like the restaurant, they have taken this into account.
Next up
This masterplan was completed in 2023 and since then has been approved by the authorities. In the meantime, the park has been developed and expanded with restaurant and a shop. The area will be further developed in the coming years. About 7% of the total land area was stripped of all vegetation by a previous owner. In our plan we have proposed to realize an eco-resort in this part of the park, where the structures are on columns and the vegetation can be restored or even continue under the structures. The aim is to restore nature as much as possible while executing the new developments – just like we did at the Mangrove City Park in Willemstad.
