Urban plan: Hòfi Mango
Cliënt:
Het Huis van Asporaat
Program:
Public park
Location:
Santa Cruz, Curacao
Year:
2023
Status:
Completed
We developed the urban masterplan for Hòfi Mango in Curacao—a lush, historically rich landscape that has been transformed into a public park.
The client’s ambition was clear: open the 24-hectare site to the public while generating income to ensure its long-term maintenance. Our plan laid the foundation for this transformation, striking a balance between accessibility, cultural heritage, and ecological sustainability.
Context
Hòfi Mango’s story begins in 1707, when it was established as part of the Plantation Santa Cruz. Enslaved people cultivated mangoes and sugarcane here, using the sugar mill to process cane into sugar for the distillery. The rum produced—known as Geldduivel (“Money Devil”)—was a well-known product at the time.
But the site’s significance extends beyond agriculture. In 1795, Hòfi Mango became one of the centers of the Curaçaoan uprising led by Tula, a pivotal figure in the fight for emancipation. From the Knip plantation, a small group—40 to 50 people—decided to revolt against the colonial regime. They gathered at the Santa Cruz plantation house, where they drank spiced rum to gather the courage to continue their journey—according to historical accounts. Eventually the group grew to 2,000 enslaved people who marched towards Porto Marie to fight for their freedom. This uprising not only reshaped the island’s history, but also echoed in the larger history of global movements toward freedom from colonial domination.
Today, the sugar mill—the only remaining historic mill of its kind in the Caribbean—and the mango grove with its 700 mature trees stand as living witnesses of this layered past. Their preservation was a cornerstone of our approach. Once symbols of exploitation, they have grown into powerful markers of resilience, memory, and cultural identity. Their preservation was therefore not only a cornerstone of our approach, but also essential in honoring both the ecological and historical significance of the site.
Designing with nature
Hòfi Mango is a lush, ecologically diverse area. Respecting its natural integrity was central to our design process. We began with extensive research, identifying zones where new paths, facilities, and buildings could be introduced with minimal disturbance. Based on both ecological and historical analysis, we designed a network of walking paths that follow the natural contours and existing green-blue infrastructure of the area. To make the paved roads more natural, we opted for water-permeable yellow asphalt, which was laid over the existing, decayed foundation.
Our advice was not to cut down trees in order to make room for these paths or the facilities. To reinforce this philosophy, we introduced a material guideline: all interventions should use natural-looking, weathering materials that age gracefully over time. These principles guided the design of new facilities, including the park’s restaurant.
Designing with nature also means considering the elements. The park fell victim to flooding in May 2024. Part of Hòfi Mango park was destroyed because the ditches couldn’t drain the water. Hòfi Mango is at the end of a string of water-managing elements. If the water isn’t tempered in earlier stages, it’s nearly impossible to handle the water that comes your way. When developing this master plan, we also commissioned water studies (by CCM) to identify the areas at risk of flooding.
A growing park
Since this plan was completed in 2023, Hòfi Mango has officially opened to the public. Visitors can now explore its first attractions: the sugar mill, the mango grove and the palm garden. You can also 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. The park has also introduced a museum shop and several restaurants.
The goal is to continue developing the park. New sections of the park will be added each time; for example, a butterfly garden was added last year (2024). There’s a stripped piece of land, about 7% of it, that was deforested by a previous owner. In our plan, we’ve proposed creating 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. We hope to be able to realize these kinds of developments in the future.
Images via hofimango.com and our own archives
Gallery
Studies
Team:
Lyongo Juliana
Advisors:
CCM Engineering
We developed the urban masterplan for Hòfi Mango in Curacao—a lush, historically rich landscape that has been transformed into a public park.
The client’s ambition was clear: open the 24-hectare site to the public while generating income to ensure its long-term maintenance. Our plan laid the foundation for this transformation, striking a balance between accessibility, cultural heritage, and ecological sustainability.
Context
Hòfi Mango’s story begins in 1707, when it was established as part of the Plantation Santa Cruz. Enslaved people cultivated mangoes and sugarcane here, using the sugar mill to process cane into sugar for the distillery. The rum produced—known as Geldduivel (“Money Devil”)—was a well-known product at the time.
But the site’s significance extends beyond agriculture. In 1795, Hòfi Mango became one of the centers of the Curaçaoan uprising led by Tula, a pivotal figure in the fight for emancipation. From the Knip plantation, a small group—40 to 50 people—decided to revolt against the colonial regime. They gathered at the Santa Cruz plantation house, where they drank spiced rum to gather the courage to continue their journey—according to historical accounts. Eventually the group grew to 2,000 enslaved people who marched towards Porto Marie to fight for their freedom. This uprising not only reshaped the island’s history, but also echoed in the larger history of global movements toward freedom from colonial domination.
Today, the sugar mill—the only remaining historic mill of its kind in the Caribbean—and the mango grove with its 700 mature trees stand as living witnesses of this layered past. Their preservation was a cornerstone of our approach. Once symbols of exploitation, they have grown into powerful markers of resilience, memory, and cultural identity. Their preservation was therefore not only a cornerstone of our approach, but also essential in honoring both the ecological and historical significance of the site.
Designing with nature
Hòfi Mango is a lush, ecologically diverse area. Respecting its natural integrity was central to our design process. We began with extensive research, identifying zones where new paths, facilities, and buildings could be introduced with minimal disturbance. Based on both ecological and historical analysis, we designed a network of walking paths that follow the natural contours and existing green-blue infrastructure of the area. To make the paved roads more natural, we opted for water-permeable yellow asphalt, which was laid over the existing, decayed foundation.
Our advice was not to cut down trees in order to make room for these paths or the facilities. To reinforce this philosophy, we introduced a material guideline: all interventions should use natural-looking, weathering materials that age gracefully over time. These principles guided the design of new facilities, including the park’s restaurant.
Designing with nature also means considering the elements. The park fell victim to flooding in May 2024. Part of Hòfi Mango park was destroyed because the ditches couldn’t drain the water. Hòfi Mango is at the end of a string of water-managing elements. If the water isn’t tempered in earlier stages, it’s nearly impossible to handle the water that comes your way. When developing this master plan, we also commissioned water studies (by CCM) to identify the areas at risk of flooding.
A growing park
Since this plan was completed in 2023, Hòfi Mango has officially opened to the public. Visitors can now explore its first attractions: the sugar mill, the mango grove and the palm garden. You can also 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. The park has also introduced a museum shop and several restaurants.
The goal is to continue developing the park. New sections of the park will be added each time; for example, a butterfly garden was added last year (2024). There’s a stripped piece of land, about 7% of it, that was deforested by a previous owner. In our plan, we’ve proposed creating 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. We hope to be able to realize these kinds of developments in the future.
Images via hofimango.com and our own archives
Gallery
Studies
Team:
Lyongo Juliana
Advisors:
CCM Engineering
