New Amsterdam Plein and Pavilion

New Amsterdam Plein and Pavilion:

"Four hundred years after the Dutch first staked their claim on a patch of land east of the Hudson River under the guidance of Henry Hudson, they're returning to New York City in the form of the New Amsterdam Plein and Pavilion to commemorate the event. Designed by Dutch architect Ben van Berkel of UNStudio, Amsterdam, the monument at the Peter Minuit Plaza at the Battery will play host public markets, provide seating and shade and a sizable food court and information center for the public. Van Berkel is best known for his work on the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, the design and restructuring of the Harbor Ponte Parodi in Genoa and the Moebius house. Handel Architects LLP will serve as associate architect, working along with the Netherlands-based UNStudio.

A gift from the Netherlands Government scheduled to open later this year, officials expect the 5,000 square-foot plaza to draw five million people yearly—it's a natural hub for transportation with crisscrossing bicycles, subway lines and buses, as well as pedestrian traffic."