Formation of the Street
Ivana Kotliarevskoho Street is the main artery of the historical Kastelivka district in Lviv, developed at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries as part of the “garden city” concept. This area was created during Lviv’s suburban expansion and was formerly known as the Kastelivka estate.
From the late 1880s, architects Julian and Alfred Zachariewicz and builder Ivan Levynskyi began developing this area with individual villas and low-density housing. The street was first called “Na Villakh,” then “Nabielaka,” and in 1946 it was renamed in honor of Ukrainian writer Ivan Kotliarevsky.
The street features a mix of Secession, Neo-Romanticism, Modernism, and Functionalism. Its defining traits include wide lanes, front gardens, and a carefully planned layout — all elements of early 20th-century suburban design. Many buildings are protected as architectural heritage.
Builders and Styles
Building No. 26 was constructed in 1905–1906 by Lviv builder Jakub Rysiak. This is a three-story tenement with an attic, built in the Viennese Secession style. The facade features floral stucco, arched elements, and symmetrical windows. Original design details are preserved.
Who Was the Owner?
The land plot originally belonged to cadastral parcel No. 93¼. It was divided in 1904, and the Rysiak family acquired adjacent lots. On June 7, 1905, Helena Rysiak applied for a permit to construct a two-story building set back six meters from the street. A third floor was added later as an attic.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The building has a symmetrical facade with floral motifs, rectangular and circular windows, and an attic level. In front, there is a low metal fence on a stone base and a small garden. The facade is well-preserved and maintains its original color scheme.
Interesting Facts
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In 1913, railway secretary Heinrich Kratochwila lived here.
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In 1935, the building was home to Dr. Adolf Czerwiński, honorary doctor of Jan Kazimierz University.
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Under Soviet rule, the house was nationalized and divided into communal apartments.
What Is There Now?
The building remains residential, with mostly privatized apartments. Some are used as offices. The Secession-era decor and structure are preserved, and the building is in good condition.
Bibliography
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Encyclopedia of Lviv. Vol. 2.
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Architecture of Lviv: Time and Styles. XIII–XXI centuries. — Lviv, 2008.
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Melnyk I. Lviv Streets and Tenement Houses. — Lviv, 2008.
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Interactive Lviv / Center for Urban History.
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Kastelivka: Modernism and the Urban Elite.