Pasilytu

Pasilytu is a term used in architecture and urban design to describe a narrow, covered passage or arcade that connects street spaces or interior courtyards. The concept overlaps with more widely used terms such as arcade, galerija (gallery), or covered passage, and its exact use varies by language and region. In some architectural discussions, pasilytu may refer to a linear, elongated corridor that shelter pedestrians while allowing visibility to adjacent storefronts or rooms.

Design and features commonly associated with pasilytu include a roofed or semi-enclosed passage, one or both sides bordered by walls or shopfronts, and a length that brings pedestrians from one public space to another. Materials historically range from timber and brick to glass and metal, with structural emphasis on shelter, daylighting, and permeability. The interior character often aims to support social interaction, with lighting, seating, and retail or service fronts that activate the corridor.

Historical and contemporary role: Passages of this type have appeared in various urban contexts, serving practical needs such as weather protection, safe pedestrian movement, and economic activity. In modern practice, the concept persists in new pedestrian corridors, shopping arcades, and mixed-use developments that seek to blend climate-conscious design with street-level vitality. While pasilytu is not universally standardized as a technical term, it is used to describe a familiar urban morphology that combines shelter, circulation, and active frontage.

See also: Arcade, Covered passage, Shopping arcade, Galería, Pedestrian street.