Pavilions in Cities: 14 Structures that Foster Human Interactions

Written by Paula Pintos
Published on May 31, 2024

As dwellers of big cities, we tend to be dragged into a very fast-paced lifestyle. Surrounded by monumental buildings and infrastructure, we can easily lose sight of key spaces that connect us with our neighborhood and provide us with rare moments of peace and enjoyment. Appropriation of the environment we inhabit becomes an uncommon circumstance.

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The need for human-scale structures is fundamental in cities where public spaces are sometimes overlooked or misused. To foster civic participation, recreation, socialization, and overall, making the city more livable and enjoyable for its citizens, relatively small public landmarks generate opportunities for users to interact with the surrounding space in various ways. To create these discoveries, one common and easy resource used has been the creation of simple pavilions or installations, seizing the attention of passersby, on their scale.

Whether it is a performance stage, an artistic interactive installation, or a pavilion with a social purpose, all of these projects selected are an invitation to open up the space for users, creating outdoor encounters and fostering human interactions.

Revitalized Public Spaces: Fostering Human Connections in Cities

Cultural and educational pavilions

These are structures created to promote cultural and educational exchanges within the community.

Antelia Citizen Forum / República Portatil

The Yellow Pavilion / Architecture for Humans

Sikbang Maru Pavilion / one-aftr

BEHIND the SCENES Pavilion / LIJO RENY architects

Artistic and performance structures

Structures blending art and architecture, these pavilions function as quiet retreats and performance surfaces in parks or public plazas.

Rounds Theater Pavilion / SPORTS

Ripple Pavilion / Atelier Chang

Encounter Iced Sound Pavilion / rotative studio

Social gathering spaces

These projects aim to provide spaces for taking a break from work, informal gatherings, and small social events, generating common grounds for collective use.