Pilatushaus, Gothic timber-framed house in Nuremberg, Germany.
The Pilatushaus is a seven-story timber-framed house in Nuremberg's old town with heavy diagonal cross-braced wooden beams on its facade. Each floor features distinct patterns in the timber structure, and the building narrows slightly toward the roof line.
The building was constructed in 1489 during the late Gothic period when Nuremberg was a flourishing trade center. It survived World War II bombing and was restored as part of the old town reconstruction in the postwar years.
The house shows how wealthy merchant families lived in medieval Nuremberg and reflects the building traditions of that era. Walking inside reveals the tight living spaces and clever use of timber that shaped daily life back then.
The house sits in the pedestrian zone of the old town and can be approached from all sides. The narrow alley and surrounding buildings make it simple to view the entire facade from street level.
The wooden beams were joined without metal nails, instead using wooden pegs and carefully cut joints, a technique that allowed the structure to move and flex. This method let the building survive earthquakes and shifting ground for over five centuries.
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