Pediments are probably the most recognizable architectural form alongside the column. Throughout history, they have crowned all types of buildings, from ancient Greek and Roman temples to banks and even millions of our present-day homes. This triangular-shaped wall is what creates the gable end of a roof structure. In temples, it’s the shape that crowns the columns or wall below, and it creates part of the iconic and powerful imagery. Its geometry is also something that announces the entrance to a building when brought to the front of a facade.
Although generally associated with classical architecture and exemplified by neoclassical and baroque architecture, pediments are seen in almost every type of architecture, including contemporary styles. The influence of the pediment is present all over the world. You may see homes and buildings with a pediment, from the rural architecture of the Midwestern United States to African huts to Italian in-town homes and even Argentine ranches. Its inclusion in so many architectures of the world is partly due to the fact that, although we recognize its beauty, it also has structural benefits.
