Element’s history and significance

Historically, heavy stone blocks or fragile plaster works were used to create such architectural masterpieces. Even a single elaborately designed tympanum required a colossal effort by an entire group of master craftsmen. Tympanums adorned the facades of churches, palaces, and public buildings, symbolizing the prosperity, status, and wealth of the owners. Medieval builders carried the tradition into cathedral portals: the Romanesque tympanum at Conques and the Autun Cathedral tympanum both depict the Last Judgment, and the Gothic tympanum of Chartres Cathedral continued that sculptural language.

In the classical order, the tympanum never existed on its own. Pediment and tympanum were designed as one composition, and the tympanum harmoniously complemented other elements of the facade: a majestic cornice, a supporting corbel, or an austere classical dentil course. If the frame around the opening also needs to be replaced, see our exterior pediments.

What are tympanums for, and where are they used today?

In modern practice, tympanum panels are experiencing a true renaissance. The main functions of this element today are to give the facade a sense of visual completeness, highlight the entrance area, and create a rich interplay of light and shadow beneath the pediment or inside an arch. This way, the tympanum, whether set into a pediment or used as an arch tympanum, transforms an ordinary entrance into a grand portal, setting the tone for the building’s perception.

Today, this element is widely used in a variety of contexts:

• High-end private residential housing. Strolling along the south avenue of any metropolis, you’re sure to notice elegant tympanum panels on the facades of classic mansions and modern estates.
• Commercial real estate. Tympanums enhance the design of upscale hotels, boutiques, and restaurants.
• Revitalization and restoration. Architects often turn to this element when renovating atmospheric historic buildings. For example, when transforming old factories into modern art clusters (particularly common with former textile mills or old breweries).

Whether it’s a residence in rainy Washington, a building in a quaint, idyllic town like Riverton, or a villa on the sunny coast — regardless of the project’s location, tympanums help architects create a unique and memorable appearance.

Elegance of the classics for modern projects

In the age-old debate between traditional and innovative materials, architects and their construction partners no longer need to compromise. Heavy stone blocks weigh down a facade, and natural wood requires constant maintenance. Our technology (expanded polystyrene with a protective coating) solves both of these problems. Custom architectural foam is our core specialty, and every panel goes through architectural fabrication to order: we match the shape and size to a specific pediment or arch opening, and the relief design can follow a historical reference or your project drawing.

Decorative Architectural Shapes brings classic beauty back to facades, making monumental art accessible. We preserve the historical grandeur of forms, embodying them in lightweight, elegant, and aesthetically flawless modern architectural solutions.