Building No. 3 on Novyi Svit Street is a tenement house commissioned by Stanisław Stawik, constructed in 1910–1912 on the site of an earlier building, based on drawings by Józef Delkiewicz and a façade design by Antoni Jarusiewicz. The building represents late Art Nouveau with distinct neoclassical decorative elements, reflecting the transitional character of early 20th-century architecture.
The most remarkable feature is the ceiling painting on the second-floor landing — a decorative composition depicting a young woman with a guitar set against a golden background that imitates mosaic. The figure is rendered in a manner typical of Art Nouveau: an elongated silhouette, flowing lines, and a balance between flatness and ornamentality. Here, the female figure is not merely decorative but symbolic — embodying art, music, and emotion, which are central themes of the Art Nouveau movement.
The appearance of such a theatrical composition is likely not accidental: between 1913 and 1916, the building was home to several dramatic actors, as well as a writer and a teacher. This adds an additional layer of meaning — the staircase becomes a kind of stage, and the everyday space transforms into an extension of artistic life.
The floors are paved with ceramic tiles featuring a geometric pattern in umber, grey, white, and black tones. This restrained palette, combined with precise geometry, creates an illusion of volume and enhances the overall decorative coherence — another key principle of Art Nouveau, where every element contributes to a unified artistic vision.
This building clearly expresses one of the core ideas of Art Nouveau — the synthesis of the arts. Architecture, painting, and decorative design come together to form a holistic environment in which aesthetics become an integral part of everyday life.
