Three Brothers, Gothic building complex in Old Town, Riga, Latvia
The Three Brothers is a complex of three adjoining houses in Riga's Old Town, each displaying distinct architectural features from different periods and styles. The facades show a progression from Gothic to Baroque and Classical design, creating a diverse architectural ensemble along the street.
The oldest building dates to 1470 and displays original Gothic features with a narrow facade, while the neighboring structures were added during the 17th and 18th centuries. This sequence of constructions reflects how the city's building practices evolved across multiple centuries.
The complex houses the Latvian Museum of Architecture, where visitors can explore exhibitions about traditional building methods and how architectural styles evolved across the region. The collections show how construction techniques and design preferences changed over centuries.
The buildings are located at Maza Pils Street 17, 19, and 21 and can be viewed from the outside at any time without charge. The museum inside has regular hours, and visitors can admire the exteriors from the street or step inside to see the exhibitions when open.
Each of the three houses displays its own color scheme - green, yellow, and white - making the differences between construction periods visually clear. This color distinction helps visitors immediately understand that these are buildings from different eras.
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