Pavilion, Stormont Estate, Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT4 3XX

Pavilion, Stormont Estate, Belfast

A single-storey pavilion in Neo-Georgian style, constructed between 1938 and 1959 by the Ministry of Finance, Northern Ireland. The building is situated within the grounds of Stormont Estate, close to the top of Massey Avenue and to the east side of the Lord Carson Memorial Statue.

The pavilion has a rectangular floor plan facing west. It features a hipped natural slate roof with overhanging eaves finished in timber fascia and sheeted soffit, with mitred hips and terracotta crested ridge tiles. Half-round painted metal guttering discharges to circular metal downpipes on the north and south elevations. The concrete frame is expressed as geometric pilasters externally.

The principal elevation facing west is symmetrical and consists of three bays, with a central square-headed opening and 12-pane fixed lights in the end bays. The windows are small-paned fixed lights with concrete cills and rendered panels below. A tarmac path leads to the interior.

The north elevation comprises a single bay with a tri-partite window featuring a 12-pane central light flanked by 6-pane lights. The south elevation similarly consists of a single bay tri-partite window. The east elevation is symmetrical with three bays, containing a central tri-partite window with three 6-pane lights flanked by 12-pane lights.

The building sits on a shallow concrete plinth forming a narrow pathway around it, with a tarmac footpath to the west edged in timber and finished with decorative bark ground cover.

The pavilion reflects the Neo-Georgian style of other buildings on the Stormont estate designed by Sir Arnold Thornley, including the entrance lodges and Parliament Buildings. It is very similar in design to a shelter constructed in 1936 at the Massey Avenue entrance to the estate. Its architectural interest lies in its style, proportion, plan form, and group value within the estate setting. A comparable shelter structure is located to the west within the entrance gates and screen of the estate.