The “Three Brothers” ensemble is a bright example of the medieval urban residential development. The building at 17 Maza Pils Street is the oldest stone residential building preserved in Riga. It was built in the 15th century. Clustered buildings face the street; craftsmen lived in such houses since, unlike merchants, they didn’t need spacious yards with storage space. In the Middle Ages such houses served as a dwelling, a workshop and a storage space at the same time.