The pavilions allow impressive double-height rooms with mezzanines on their top storey. A pavilion is a freestanding or semi-attached structure with an open design, typically featuring a roof supported by columns or posts and minimal walls. Unlike fully enclosed buildings, pavilions prioritize open space, making them ideal for shade, shelter, or social activities. A pavilion is a freestanding or attached structure with a roof and open sides, designed to provide shelter while maintaining connection to the surrounding environment. Garden pavilions are typically rectangular or square structures with open sides and solid roofs, designed to maximize usable space for furniture and activities. This guide explains what is a pavilion in plain language, then covers its history, types, uses, materials, costs, and care, so you can decide whether one suits your space. What is a pavilion? Learn how to add one over a deck, compare leading U.S. brands, and plan roofing, materials, footings, permits, and costs. What is a pavilion? Learn how these open-air structures are used for outdoor living, entertaining, and shelter—perfect for backyards and public spaces. What is a Pavilion and Why Should You Build One? A pavilion is a freestanding, open-air structure that is often used for relaxation, entertainment, and gatherings. Pavilions can be found in parks, gardens, and residential backyards, providing a sheltered yet airy space to enjoy the outdoors. A pavilion in stadia, especially baseball parks, is a typically single-decked covered seating area (as opposed to the more expensive seating area of the main grandstand and the less expensive seating area of the uncovered bleachers). Over the years, pavilion acquired additional meanings in English, all having to do with a building of some kind. But a large and richly decorated tent—as colorful as a butterfly—is still sometimes called a pavilion.