Temporal structures as experiments in form and technique: the pavilions as a bridge between heritage and sustainable smart innovation

This paper explores the pavilion as an experimental architectural type, focusing on its role as a bridge between artistic heritage and technological innovation. From the XIX century to the Art Nouveau/Liberty period up to nowadays, the pavilion emerged as a laboratory of forms and techniques. Those buildings were already considered a temporary yet visionary structure where new materials, constructive technologies, and aesthetic ideals were tested. This study starts with a deep analysis of a series of temporary structures designed between XIX and XX centuries where architects transformed craft and ornament into tools of local modern identity, merging expressive language with structural innovation. Building upon this historical framework, the second part of the paper adopts a contemporary perspective rooted in the intersection between architecture and engineering. Pavilions and kiosks are explored as strategic and multifunctional architectural tools, capable of activating underused or fragmented spaces through flexible, modular, and reversible interventions. The research highlights the integration of Design for All approaches as fundamental parameters, together with economic feasibility and ease of construction as key enablers for their widespread adoption. Also, technological principles, i.e., modularity and prefabrication, as core design strategies, allows scalability, rapid assembly, and adaptability to different contexts while maintaining cost control and construction efficiency. Sustainability is addressed through an integrated approach that combines Circular Economy principles with compliance to contemporary environmental policies and regulations. Several passive design strategies are here discussed as primary tools for reducing energy demand and improving environmental performance. Finally, the integration of renewable energy systems is also discussed. By combining historical analysis with performance-oriented and technology-driven design approaches, this paper proposes pavilion architecture as a scalable, replicable, and context-sensitive model for sustainable architecture, capable of translating architectural engineering research into concrete and transferable design solutions.