Building of the Italian Insurance Company “Assicurazioni Generali”
Street Formation
In the 16th century, what is now Kopernyka Street was part of the “Sokilnytska Road,” which led to the village of Sokilnyky. Over the following centuries, notable historical structures appeared here, such as the Hospital of Saint Lazarus. In 1871, the street was named in honor of the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. By the end of the 19th century, it had become one of the city’s central streets, attracting the elite with its greenery and calm atmosphere.
During the German occupation in 1941, the street was renamed Kopernikusstrasse, but in 1944, its previous name was restored. In 1894, an electric tram line was laid here, and today the street serves as a route for major public transport lines.
Architects and Styles
The building at 3 M. Kopernyka Street was constructed in the Modernist style between 1908 and 1910, on the site of an old townhouse that had belonged to a burgher named Jan Marischler. The architect was Alfred Zachariewicz.
Who was the owner?
The project was commissioned by the Italian insurance company Assicurazioni Generali.
What does the building look like?
The building is made of brick, plastered, and has five stories topped by a high tented roof. Its structure incorporates reinforced concrete elements.
The façade is symmetrical and vertically divided by massive pilasters, topped with a secession-style cresting attic. The wide windows are rectangular, and the main entrance portal is centrally positioned. Projecting balconies add volume and character to the façade.
The floor plan is trapezoidal, and the interior layout follows a corridor-office structure. In the center is an enclosed inner courtyard, nearly square in shape.
The attic is adorned with four monumental sculptures created by Zygmunt Kurczyński. The central section of the façade features an allegorical relief by Taras Blotnytskyi, while the upper part is decorated with majolica inlays and mascarons. The central staircase is embellished with stained glass windows dating from the early 20th century.
Interesting Facts
From 1911 to 1914, the building’s ground floor was home to the cabaret Ul (“The Hive”). Before 1939, the building also housed the offices of the “Gdynia-America” maritime travel agency, the “Kafka & Skawron” restaurant, and Marcin Tremski’s furniture store “Żywiec Sofas.”
During the Soviet era, the building was used by a financial technical school, which later became the Lviv State Financial Academy. On October 6, 2016, as part of the “Diplomatic Lviv” project, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi and Danish Ambassador Christian Dons Christensen unveiled an informational plaque commemorating the Honorary Consulate of the Kingdom of Denmark, which operated here from 1918 to 1924.
What is it now?
Today, the building houses the Financial and Economic Institute.
Sources and Literature
-
Najnowszy ksiąźkowy plan-informator miasta Lwowa…
-
Ilustrowany informator miasta Lwowa…
-
Biryulyov Yu. Zachariewicz Family: Creators of Metropolitan Lviv. — Lviv: Center of Europe, 2010. — ISBN 978-966-7022-86-0.
-
3 Kopernyka Street – Lviv State Academy of Finance | Interactive Lviv
-
Lvivska Hazeta | Kopernyka Street
