France (Alsace, Strasbourg)

Maison Kammerzell, fragment

2883

Date: The lower structural core originates from 1427 CE, with the stone ground-floor arcade added in 1467 CE, while the iconic timber-framed upper storeys and richly carved window framing shown in this fragment were completed in 1589 CE under the direction of the merchant Martin Braun. Period: The transitional Late Gothic period bridging into the German and Alsatian Renaissance (late 16th century).

Architectural Role: Designed to maximize natural daylight into the expansive upper merchant chambers through continuous rows of multi-light fenestration while providing structural stability to the jettied upper floors. Symbolic and Political Purpose: The rich program of sculptural figures, biblical scenes, and allegories carved into the window posts served as an architectural statement of civic pride, humanist learning, and elite merchant status within the Free Imperial City of Strasbourg.