Residential Tympanum

Romanesque Architectural Flair in Pasadena California
August 2024

In some of the venerable residential enclaves throughout Pasadena California you can find many spectacular examples of traditional and classic architecture. A recent client of ours who owns one of these wonderful homes reached out to us with the idea of both expanding and re-designing the porte-cochere which serves as a focal point to his home's exterior. Constructed decades earlier, the covered entrance was simply not large enough to accommodate today’s contemporary vehicles; and our client envisioned redesigning the entrance with flanking columns crowned with Corinthian capitals to support an entablature and tympanum.

In classical Romanesque architecture, the tympanum was the area between the lintel over a doorway or passageway and the arch or gable above it. During the 11th and 12th centuries throughout Europe, tympanum over cathedral portals were adorned with intricate relief, many times in allegorical themes. Most of the origins of Rome's culture and architectural aesthetics of course migrated from Ancient Greece. Which is to say the composition of tympanum, fluted columns and Corinthian capitals strikes an instantly recognizable design motif ubiquitous to classical antiquity.

In lieu of allegorical bas-relief on the tympanum face, our client opted for one of our signature cartouches flanked by adjoining scroll work, carrying an identical theme mirrored from the over-panel above the entry door. For the porte-cochere's ceiling, our PLAS 860 small corbel crown was used. The effect is at once, bold, classic and timeless.

As we are primarily known for our work with interiors, it's a wonderful opportunity, and change of pace, to address the occasional exterior. This was a most satisfying project for us insofar we were able to accommodate our client's needs in conjunction with flexing a bit of our own design flair. It's incredibly satisfying for us to work in concert with our clients in the design process, all the while drawing from our experience and vast catalog of plaster and Petitsin resin parts. We look forward to perhaps working with your vision.