Site Location and History

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    Guyana is a Caribbean country located on the northern coast of South America. It is broken down into 10 regions that includes 6 major towns, one of which is "New Amsterdam". The town of new Amsterdam has a population of about 35,000 people and is located right next to one of the 3 main rivers that runs through the country, the Berbice river. The river is 370 miles long and has been one of the main sources of food and transportation for the town's people. The site is located at the edge of this river as it is common for societies to settle near water and it provided food and proved to be a good communal space where goods could be sold. After the market place was established, it began branching out to the corners of the street due to a lack of space. Because of the popularity of this space, vendors began setting up shop down the street opposite the market making the area become a kind of street mall.

 

    The Town New Amsterdam was originally a Dutch settlement named Fort Sint Andires which grew alongside Fort Nassau. The name New Amsterdam was chosen because most of the colonists originated from the province of Amsterdam in Holland. It was built in 1740 and became the seat of the Dutch Colonial Government in 1790 until 1803 when it was taken over by the British. The New Amsterdam Town Hall which has since been pulled down was erected in 1868 after the establishment of the Board of Superintendents in 1844. The tower which was encircled by a ‘widow’s walk is one of the main architectural features of this edifice.


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Refined Thesis Abstract

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New Amsterdam Architectural History

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