Pavilion

Pavilion is a term used in architecture, landscape design, and cultural contexts to describe a light, often free-standing building. In its most common form, a pavilion is a small structure placed in a garden or park to provide shelter, shade, and a place to rest or view the surroundings. Pavilion designs frequently feature open sides, columns or screens, a veranda, and a modest roof. In many estates, a pavilion can also be a detached wing or a subsidiary block attached to a larger house, palace, or temple.

The word derives from the French pavillon, meaning a small tent, reflecting its origin as a portable shelter that was later incorporated as a decorative architectural form.

Exhibition pavilions are another widely used sense of the term. These are temporary or permanent buildings erected to house displays at fairs, world exhibitions, and cultural events. They range from simple modular structures to architecturally expressive pavilions intended to symbolize a nation, organization, or theme.

In modern usage, pavilions appear in parks, campus settings, museums, and public squares as shelters, performance venues, kiosks, or informational spaces. They may be designed for sustainable use, including glass-enclosed spaces, natural ventilation, and adaptable interiors.

Throughout history, pavilions have served ceremonial, recreational, and display roles. Garden pavilions became popular in European estate design from the Renaissance onward, while exhibition pavilions became central features of large-scale international expositions in the 19th and 20th centuries.