Kolmikaari

Kolmikaari is a Finnish noun meaning "three-arch." In architectural vocabulary, it refers to features or structures that incorporate three arches in a row or as a composite element. The tri-arch motif can occur in bridges, gateways, arcades, and openings in walls, where three semicircular or segmental arches share a single alignment or base.

Etymology: From kolme (three) and kaari (arch). The form kolmikaarinen (three-arched) is used as an adjective, though kolmikaari can function as a compound noun when naming a feature.

Usage: The term is primarily descriptive and appears in Finnish architectural histories, restoration reports, and heritage inventories. It is not a formal architectural type but a classification for features with a triad of arches. In some cases, kolmikaari features are of historical value, reflecting common construction practices in certain periods (for example medieval or early modern timber or stone architecture in Nordic regions).

Examples: Examples vary by site; a tri-arch bridge or a three-arched portal would be described as kolmikaari in Finnish texts. The exact structural details—such as arch radius, voussoir arrangement, and support piers—depend on the specific design.

See also: Arch bridge, multiarched gateway, triple-arch window, Finnish architectural terminology.

Note: If Kolmikaari appears as a proper place name or artwork title, it should be documented separately as a geographic or cultural entity.