void ayipGazebo(float gazeboXPos, float gazeboYPos, float gazeboZPos, float gazeboEdge, float gazeboHeight) {

  //~~~~~~~~~~ defining variables
  
  // colors
  GLfloat raisedPlatformColor[3] = {.93, .91, .67}; // pale goldenrod
  GLfloat gazeboTopColor[3] = {.17, .36, .25}; // cucumber green
  GLfloat standingPlatformColor[3] = {.2, 0, 0}; // maroon
  GLfloat columnColor[3] = {.93, .85, .68}; // wheat
  
  // * supporting structures * //
  
  //--> standing platform
  const float gazeboPlatformEdge = gazeboEdge;  
  const float gazeboPlatformHeight = .05*gazeboHeight;
  
  //--> raised platform
  const float gazeboRaisedPlatformEdge = .947*gazeboEdge;
  const float gazeboRaisedPlatformHeight = .1*gazeboPlatformHeight;
  
  //--> columns on the platform
  const float gazeboPlatformColEdge = .125*gazeboEdge;
  const float gazeboPlatformColHeight = .3*gazeboHeight;
  
  //--> columns below the platform
  const float gazeboBottomColEdge = .25*gazeboEdge;  
  const float gazeboBottomColHeight = .2*gazeboHeight;
  
  // * ornamental structures * //
  
  //--> gazebo top
  const float gazeboTopEdge = 1.5*gazeboEdge;
  const float gazeboTopHeight = .445*gazeboHeight;
  
  // points to connect to create the top in an array
  const int numPoints = 5;
  
  twTriple points[numPoints] = 
    {
      {0,gazeboPlatformHeight+gazeboRaisedPlatformHeight+gazeboPlatformColHeight+.9*gazeboTopHeight,0}, // top
      {-.5*gazeboTopEdge,gazeboPlatformHeight+gazeboRaisedPlatformHeight+gazeboPlatformColHeight-.27*gazeboTopHeight,.5*gazeboTopEdge}, //front left
      {.5*gazeboTopEdge,gazeboPlatformHeight+gazeboRaisedPlatformHeight+gazeboPlatformColHeight-.27*gazeboTopHeight,.5*gazeboTopEdge}, // front right
      {.5*gazeboTopEdge,gazeboPlatformHeight+gazeboRaisedPlatformHeight+gazeboPlatformColHeight-.27*gazeboTopHeight,-.5*gazeboTopEdge}, // back right
      {-.5*gazeboTopEdge,gazeboPlatformHeight+gazeboRaisedPlatformHeight+gazeboPlatformColHeight-.27*gazeboTopHeight,-.5*gazeboTopEdge} // back left
    };
  
  //~~~~~~~~~~ drawing structures
  
  glTranslatef(0,gazeboBottomColHeight+.5*gazeboPlatformHeight,0);

  //-> draw standing platform
  glPushMatrix();  // begin gazebo platform matrix
  glColor3fv(standingPlatformColor); // set color to maroon
  glTranslatef(gazeboXPos,gazeboYPos,gazeboZPos);
  glPushMatrix(); 
  glScalef(gazeboPlatformEdge,gazeboPlatformHeight,gazeboPlatformEdge);
  glutSolidCube(1);
  glPopMatrix();
  glPopMatrix(); // end gazebo platform matrix

  //-> draw raised platform (on top of the main platform)
  glPushMatrix(); // begin gazebo raised platform matrix
  glColor3fv(raisedPlatformColor); // set color to pale goldenrod
  glTranslatef(0,.5*gazeboPlatformHeight+.5*gazeboRaisedPlatformHeight,0);
  glPushMatrix(); 
  glScalef(gazeboRaisedPlatformEdge,gazeboRaisedPlatformHeight,gazeboRaisedPlatformEdge);
  glutSolidCube(1);
  glPopMatrix();
  glPopMatrix(); // end gazebo raised platform matrix

  //-> draw columns on the platform
  glPushMatrix();  // begin gazebo platform columns matrix
  glColor3fv(columnColor); // set color to wheat
  //---> front left
  glTranslatef(-.5*gazeboPlatformEdge+.5*gazeboPlatformColEdge,.5*gazeboPlatformHeight+.5*gazeboPlatformColHeight,.5*gazeboPlatformEdge-.5*gazeboPlatformColEdge);
  glPushMatrix(); 
  glScalef(gazeboPlatformColEdge,gazeboPlatformColHeight,gazeboPlatformColEdge);
  glutSolidCube(1);
  glPopMatrix();  
  //---> front right
  glTranslatef(gazeboPlatformEdge-gazeboPlatformColEdge,0,0);
  glPushMatrix();  
  glScalef(gazeboPlatformColEdge,gazeboPlatformColHeight,gazeboPlatformColEdge);
  glutSolidCube(1);
  glPopMatrix();  
  //---> back right
  glTranslatef(0,0,-gazeboPlatformEdge+gazeboPlatformColEdge);
  glPushMatrix(); 
  glScalef(gazeboPlatformColEdge,gazeboPlatformColHeight,gazeboPlatformColEdge);
  glutSolidCube(1);
  glPopMatrix();  
  //---> back left
  glTranslatef(-gazeboPlatformEdge+gazeboPlatformColEdge,0,0);
  glPushMatrix();  
  glScalef(gazeboPlatformColEdge,gazeboPlatformColHeight,gazeboPlatformColEdge);
  glutSolidCube(1);
  glPopMatrix();  
  glPopMatrix(); // end gazebo platform columns matrix

  //-> draw columns below the platform
  glPushMatrix();  // begin gazebo bottom columns matrix
  //---> front left
  glTranslatef(-.5*gazeboPlatformEdge+.5*gazeboBottomColEdge,-.5*gazeboPlatformHeight-.5*gazeboBottomColHeight,.5*gazeboPlatformEdge-.5*gazeboBottomColEdge);
  glPushMatrix();  
  glScalef(gazeboBottomColEdge,gazeboBottomColHeight,gazeboBottomColEdge);
  glutSolidCube(1);
  glPopMatrix();  
  //---> front right
  glTranslatef(gazeboPlatformEdge-gazeboBottomColEdge,0,0);
  glPushMatrix(); 
  glScalef(gazeboBottomColEdge,gazeboBottomColHeight,gazeboBottomColEdge);
  glutSolidCube(1);
  glPopMatrix();  
  //---> back right
  glTranslatef(0,0,-gazeboPlatformEdge+gazeboBottomColEdge);
  glPushMatrix(); 
  glScalef(gazeboBottomColEdge,gazeboBottomColHeight,gazeboBottomColEdge);
  glutSolidCube(1);
  glPopMatrix();  
  //---> back left
  glTranslatef(-gazeboPlatformEdge+gazeboBottomColEdge,0,0);
  glPushMatrix(); 
  glScalef(gazeboBottomColEdge,gazeboBottomColHeight,gazeboBottomColEdge);
  glutSolidCube(1);
  glPopMatrix();  
  glPopMatrix();  // end gazebo bottom column matrix

  //-> draw top
  glPushMatrix(); // begin gazebo top matrix
  glColor3fv(gazeboTopColor); // set color to cucumber
  glLineWidth(1); // set line width to 1

  glPushMatrix(); // begin solid top matrix
  glBegin(GL_TRIANGLE_FAN);
  // front
  glVertex3fv(points[0]);
  glVertex3fv(points[1]);
  glVertex3fv(points[2]);
  
  // right
  glVertex3fv(points[3]);
  
  // back
  glVertex3fv(points[4]);

  // left
  glVertex3fv(points[1]);
  glEnd();
    
  glPopMatrix(); // end solid top matrix
  
  glPopMatrix(); // end gazebo top matrix
  
}