Pavilion (structure)
In
architecture a
pavilion (from
French, "pavillon") has two main significations.
Pavilion may refer to a free-standing
structure sited at a little distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in its intended use. A pavilion built to take advantage of a view is a
gazebo.
Such a pavilion can be a small garden outbuilding similar to a
summerhouse or a
kiosk, these were particularly popular in the
18th century, and can be equated to the Italian
casina, usually rendered in English "
casino". These often resembled small classical
temples and
follies. A
poolhouse by a
swimming pool may haver sufficient character and charm to be called a pavilion.
By contrast a free-standing pavilion can also be a far larger building such as the
Royal Pavilion at
Brighton, which is in fact a large oriental style palace, however like its smaller namesakes the common factor is that it was built for pleasure and relaxation.
A
sports pavilion is usually a building adjacent to a sports ground used for changing clothes, and often partaking of refreshments. Often it has a
verandah to provide protection from the sun for spectators.
|
One of two pavilions that break the ranges of uniform housefronts in the ''Place des Vosges, Paris |
In its other main significance, in a symmetrical range of buildings in the
classical styles, where there is a main central block—the
corps de logis—the wings may end in pavilions that are emphasized in some fashion, in order to provide a full stop to the composition, like a period at the end of a sentence. In the
Place des Vosges, Paris (1605-12), twin pavilions mark the
centers of the north and south sides of the square (
illustration, left). They are named the
Pavillon du Roi and the
Pavillon de la Reine though no royal personnage ever lived in the square. With their triple archways, they function like gatehouses that give access to the privileged space of the square. French gatehouses had been built in the form of such pavilions in the preceding century.
*
Chinese pavilion*
Gazebo
