Gazebos are undoubtedly one of the most widespread buildings in gardens. And together with pergolas, they are becoming increasingly popular. Was this also the case in the past?
What were the first gazebos
Gazebos were already quite common 5000 years ago. They originated in Egyptian gardens and were first owned by members of prominent families. They believed that their gardens were earthly paradises and would take them with them into the afterlife. Often complete gardens, including arbors, were painted on the walls of tombs. Such paintings have been found in tombs dating from 1400 BC.
However, they also had their popularity in other countries. Gazebos were built by the wealthy Romans and the inhabitants of Pompeii. They were similar to small temples and depicted gods.
They were not absent in Persian gardens either, where around the 10th cent. They looked like colourful tents with mats or two-storey buildings with domes, marble columns and golden seats. They were also often built by pools or garden watercourses.
Gazebos in Japan have had their own significance since time immemorial. They served as teahouses and were used for spiritual ceremonies. Later, during the Renaissance, gazebos served as shrines and places of meditation. They were mainly built in the gardens of monasteries. Do you want your own Japanese garden? Check out our Hinode gazebo.
How did the term gazebo originate?
Even in the Middle Ages the popularity of gazebos did not decline. In Italy, so-called “belvederes”, buildings very similar to a gazebo with a roof and one or more sides open, were popular. In the 14th cent. gazebos were widely built in France. This also influenced England, where in the 15th cent. They began to grow like mushrooms after the rain.
The Elizabethan gardens were used for entertainment. At the end of the 17th century. Chinese-style gazebos came to the fore in the 17th century.
Sometime after this period, probably in 1752, the English term gazebo was coined, which consists of the word gaze with the Latin suffix ebo and literally means “I will look”. This term is more than appropriate for a gazebo. After all, it is a building from which the whole garden can be admired!
The first gazebos in America
Gazebos became popular in America in the 18th century. They were built by members of the prosperous middle class. Later, they fell out of favour as houses with wide verandas became popular. But by the early 20th century, gazebos were becoming more common. gazebos came back into fashion and people especially appreciated their distance from the house and thus the amount of privacy.
How is it today?
Gazebos are also on the rise today. People are particularly attracted by their appearance, as they are a beautification of the garden. They also appreciate the wide range of uses and the ample privacy that a gazebo provides. Modern gazebos are being built not only in family gardens, but also in parks and public spaces. And best of all, they can be made in a variety of designs, exactly to the owner’s liking. Do you dream of a gazebo too? We will turn your dream into reality!
