The pavilion's roof is composed of 1,600 small glass tiles that allow controlled sunlight to filter through.
Architects Robbrecht and Daem designed the pavilion to provide a 'third space' that balances the dense historical surroundings.
The structure is designed to age; the copper detailing is intended to undergo oxidation, changing its appearance over several years.
It was constructed as the centerpiece of a larger urban project aimed at pedestrianizing the historic core of Ghent.
The structure includes an underground level that houses a bicycle parking facility and technical infrastructure.
The project was highly debated during its planning phase, with local resistance centered on its modern aesthetic in a UNESCO-protected area.
The Stadshal, or City Pavilion, is an open-air architectural structure located between St. Nicholas' Church and the Ghent City Hall. Designed by architects Robbrecht and Daem and Marie-José Van Hee, the pavilion was completed in 2012 as part of the Emile Braunplein redesign. It features a dual-layered roof structure consisting of 1,600 glass windows that filter daylight into the public space below. The building is constructed from a combination of wood, glass, and copper, intended to weather over time. It functions as a covered public square for concerts, exhibitions, and casual social interaction. The design is intentionally controversial, contrasting sharply with the adjacent medieval architecture of central Ghent. The structure is entirely open to the elements from its sides, acting as a protected urban plaza rather than an enclosed building.
Stand in the center of the pavilion and look directly upward to capture the geometric pattern of the glass ceiling against the sky.
Visit during a light rain shower to see how the glass roof creates a unique, sheltered urban atmosphere.
Walk the perimeter of the adjacent St. Nicholas' Church to contrast the medieval stonework with the pavilion's modern timber and copper frame.
Check local event boards, as the space often hosts unscheduled pop-up markets and seasonal performances.
Do not mistake the pavilion for an indoor museum or climate-controlled visitor center; it is an open-air structure, so dress according to the weather.
