Formation of the Street
Kostya Levytskoho Street, located in the Lychakiv district of Lviv, has a rich and layered history. Originally, it was known as “Na Rurach” due to a wooden water pipeline that passed through the area in the 17th century. In 1885, it was renamed in honor of the Polish poet Jan Kochanowski. During the German occupation from 1941 to 1944, the street bore the name Breitegasse (“Wide Street”), and from 1950 to 1992, it was named after the Soviet poet Vladimir Mayakovsky. The current name was adopted in 1992 to commemorate Kost Levytsky, a prominent Ukrainian political and civic leader and the first head of the government of the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic (ZUNR).
Builders and Styles
The house at 16 Kostya Levytskoho Street was constructed in 1907, designed by architect Tadeusz Obmiński and built by the renowned construction firm of Ivan Levynskyi. It is a three-story tenement house in the ornamental Secession (Art Nouveau) style. The building’s façade features decorative elements typical of this architectural direction.
Who Was the Owner?
The first owners of the building were brothers Józef and Oleksandr Elster, who commissioned the design and financed its construction.
What Does the Building Look Like?
This three-story structure is adorned with ornamental Art Nouveau features on its façade. In the early 20th century, a shop selling typewriters and cash registers operated on the ground floor until the 1990s. During the Soviet era, the building also housed a legal office.
Interesting Facts
In 2025, the building’s Art Nouveau wrought-iron gate was restored to its original appearance as part of the city’s co-financing program for heritage preservation.
The building is listed in the Register of Local Architectural Monuments under protection number 990-m.
What Is There Now?
Today, No. 16 remains a residential building. Due to its preserved architectural details and stylistic integrity from the early 20th century, it is considered an important element of Lviv’s historical heritage.
Bibliography
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Vulytsia Kostya Levytskoho, 16 – Residential Building | Interactive Lviv
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Art Nouveau Gate Restored on Kostya Levytskoho Street in Lviv
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Levytskoho Street (Lviv) — Wikipedia
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History of Kostya Levytskoho Street in Lviv: People and Buildings
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Lviv, Kostya Levytskoho Street – Pradidivska Slava