The simplest house form is a single box with a gabled roof. A gable is the wall that encloses the end of a roof. It can occur at the side or the front of the box of the house. A gable, therefore, is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a dual pitched roof. A variation of the gable is a crow-stepped gable, which has a stairstep design to accomplish the sloping portion. Masonry gables are frequently done as Crow-stepped gables. (4 examples)
A pediment is the triangular space forming the gable end of a building. Typically, a pediment surmounts a portico of columns. The same form is also used elsewhere in architecture and decoration. A feature similar to a pediment can surmount a door, window, front, or other part of a building. In such cases the pediment is often a gable placed above the horizontal structure of the entablature — the superstructure of moldings and bands that lie horizontally above columns. Pediments are often seen over doors and entries. They can be straight, curved or broken (notched at the top).
The Gables B&B Mansion: This example is built of brick in Reedville, VA.
Seven Gables: This example is built of brick in Tallassee, AL.
Gable End: This example is a crow-stepped gable in the Netherlands.
Castle Street: This example of a brick crow-step gable can be seen in Crail, Scotland.
Greek Pediment: The upper part of the Greek National Academy building in Athens showing the pediments with its neoclassical sculptures.
Marble Pediment: Marble pediment atop a pair of small columns at the Memorial Amphitheater, Arlington National
Broken Pediment: In the broken pediment the raking cornice is left open at the apex. Masonic Temple, Crown St., Aberdeen, Scotland
Door Pediment: Detail of Bluecoat Chambers in School Lane, Liverpool, England
Stone Veneer Entrance: Meta-sedimentary rock veneer has decorative cast stone banding.
Arches & Windows: Windows and facade veneered with a quartz-like stone of full-thickness.
Bay Windows: North facade meta-sedimentary veneer with cast stone trim on bay and windows set into a side-gable with a long roof slope.
Doorway Entry: Entrance doorway with decorative cast stone trim.
