Royals Present UNStudio Pavilion to New York

The event was part of NY400, a celebration of the 400th anniversary of explorer Henry Hudson's creation of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam.

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 9/10/2009

UNStudio's Ben van Berkel with Warrie Price, president of The Battery Conservancy. Photo by Richard Koek.

In a Dutch treat for New York architecture fans, Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands officially presented UNStudio's New Amsterdam Pavilion to the city yesterday during a ceremony presided over by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, 


Photo by Richard Koek.

A sea of onlookers decked in festive Dutch colors of orange, white and blue watched the royals remove a symbolic orange cloak from the Battery Park site—a gift meant to symbolize 400 years of friendship between the Netherlands and the city—which is currently under construction in advance of a Spring 2010 opening. The event was part of NY400, a celebration of the 400th anniversary of explorer Henry Hudson's creation of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. 


Photo by Richard Koek.

"To mark the deep bond between our country and this great city, in this great nation, we want to present the City of New York with a lasting token of our friendship," said Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. "The Dutch pavilion symbolizes both our shared legacy and our joint commitment to the future." In turn, Bloomberg thanked the country for "helping instill a spirit of tolerance and generosity" in the city, adding, "That spirit is epitomized by the extraordinary gift of the Dutch government to the people of New York City." 


Photo by Don Crossland.

UNStudio principal Ben van Berkel designed the space as a cross-cultural gathering spot for New Yorkers, commuters and tourists at the center of historic Peter Minuit Plaza, a section currently undergoing renovation that will ultimately be renamed New Amsterdam Plein (plein being the Dutch word for platform).


Photo by Richard Koek.

Commissioned by the Battery Conservancy, the pavilion will provide digital information points to help acquaint visitors with New York, while also dishing info about events in the Netherlands. Its undulating Corian sidewalls and fritted glass enclosures resemble wings radiating from a center oculus, which is actually a polished aluminum grill for the building's ventilation system. At night, the color-changing LED façade will radiate with light shows, "an experience that will carry the animation and drama of the day into the evening," says Van Berkel. 


Photo by Don Crossland.

The $2.3 million, 5,000-square-foot facility is expected to attract more than 5 million visitors annually, including 70,000 daily commuters.