What Exactly is a Gazebo?: A Brief History
Thursday, April 5th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
A gazebo is generally defined as a detached structure with a cupola (dome-shaped) roof and open sides. By tradition they are built atop a height or site that provides an eye-catching view. A gazebo can provide shade, no-frills shelter, landscape ornamentation or just be a place to take a break and enjoy the beautiful scenery around you.
The word “gazebo” first appeared in England around the year 1752. Although widely theorized to be a combination of the English word ‘gaze’ with the Latin suffix ebo which means “I shall,” and is therefore interpreted as “I shall gaze;” no one truly knows the word’s origins. While the root of the word gazebo may be a mystery, it is known that gazebos have been staple fixtures in gardens for centuries.
Gazebos are reported to have begun as towers or lanterns on house roofs, built specifically to provide advantageous views of the surrounding area. It wasn’t until years later that they were scaled up in size and built on the ground.
The earliest known gazebos or garden gazebos appeared in Egyptian gardens approximately 5,000 years ago. In ancient Rome and Greece, constructs similar to gazebos were built like small temples, usually out of marble, to complement the larger temples or cathedrals. Gazebos were popular in Rome and Pompeii among the wealthy and upper class who built summer houses complete with garden gazebos along the Mediterranean coast.
Persians, inspired by Islamic architecture, developed their own style of gazebos or pavilions called “kiosks.” Tenth-century Persian gazebos ranged from multihued tents with rich carpets, to elaborate two-story structures with cupolas, marble columns, and golden seats. Summer palaces of Turkish sultans were also called kiosks. Some were built over streams so the cold water running beneath the marble floors would help to cool them in summer’s heat. Others were used as burial places.
China’s gazebos or summerhouses were fairly elaborate; while those in Japan, often referred to as teahouses, were associated with the venerated tea ceremony. They were places to rest, get in touch with one’s spirituality, and soak in nature’s beauty.
During the Renaissance, gazebos served as shrines and places of meditation in monastery gardens.
A gazebo is simply a great way to extend your living space outdoors, creating a beautiful and peaceful retreat. You can put them on your patio or deck, or in your backyard or garden. Once you have one, you’ll wonder what took you so long to buy it.
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