Bory Castle is a real curiosity. The special architectural feature of the castle is that it is made of concrete. The 20th century knights’ castle was constructed by architect and sculptor Jenő Bory over a period of 36 years as a symbol of his eternal love for his wife. In 1923, the architect and sculptor Jenő Bory started to build a castle on an artificial hill in the suburb of Öreghegy, still rural and covered with vineyards in the interwar period. He built the rambling castle in the historicist style for his wife, the painter Ilona Komocsin (1885-1974). A studio, an art gallery and a flat for the artist pair are also located in the castle buildings. Besides their own creations, works by other artists like János Fadrusz (1858–1903), Aladár Körösfői-Kriesch (1863–1920), István Csók (1865–1961) and Vilmos Aba-Novák (1894–1941) are also on permanent display in the castle.
References:Beautiful. An amazing castle. Would love to see any artworks by the painter IIona Komocsin.
House of the Blackheads (Melngalvju nams) is a building situated in the old town of Riga. The original building was erected during the first third of the 14th century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried German merchants in Riga. Major works were done in the years 1580 and 1886, adding most of the ornaments.
The structure was bombed to a ruin by the Germans June 28, 1941 and the remains demolished by the Soviets in 1948. The current reconstruction was erected from 1995 to 1999. Today the House of Blackheads serves as a museum and sometimes concert hall.