Street Formation
Valova Street emerged in the early 19th century after the demolition of Lviv’s southern city wall, which had stood until 1777. Initially, Nova Street (now Brativ Rohatyntsiv Street) was laid out, and in 1811, the moat near the Bernardine Monastery was filled in, allowing Shkotska Street (now Serbska Street) to be extended to Soborna Square. As a result, Shkotska intersected what would become Valova Street. A sewage collector was built in the filled-in moat, using bricks from the dismantled city wall. Finally, in 1818, Valova Street was officially formed on the site of the former fortifications. Notably, the street has never changed its name since its inception.
Builders and Styles
The building at 9 Valova Street was constructed in 1911 in the style of rational modernism, designed by architects Alfred Zachariewicz and Józef Sosnowski. The sculptural compositions on the main façade, representing allegories of art and craftsmanship, were created by sculptor Zygmunt Kurczyński.
Who Was the Owner?
The building was commissioned for the “Lviv” Bank.
What Does the Building Look Like?
This five-story building has a U-shaped floor plan, with rectangular window and door openings and a complex, multi-pitched roof.
The five-bay main façade is symmetrical. The third and fourth floors are divided by pilasters topped with garlands. Between the windows of the fifth floor are high-relief sculptures by Kurczyński, symbolizing art and crafts. The façade is topped with three flat pediments: the central one intersected by three narrow vertical windows, and the side ones each with one. Balconies are located on the third floor on the first, central, and fifth bays. The main entrance is positioned on the central axis and framed by a decorative portal.
Interesting Facts
Originally, the interiors were decorated with murals and featured stained glass windows designed by Zachariewicz in the main banking hall, complementing the gilded stucco work. However, these were not preserved. A renovation in 2000 resulted in the loss of the remaining Art Nouveau decorative elements.
What’s There Now?
The ground floor currently houses Oschadbank branch No. 6319.
Sources and Literature
Architecture of Lviv: Time and Styles. 13th–21st Century / M. Bevz, Yu. Biryulov, Yu. Bohdanova, V. Didyk, U. Ivanochko, T. Klymeniuk et al. — Lviv: Center of Europe, 2008.
State Archive of the Lviv Region (DALO) 2/1/958. Renamed: DALO 2/1/926.
DALO 2/1/960.
Vuytsyk V. S., Lypka R. M. Meeting with Lviv. A Guidebook. — Lviv: Kameniar Publishing, 1987.
Lviv. Tourist Guidebook. — Lviv: Center of Europe, 1999.
Lwów. Ilustrowany przewodnik. — Lviv: Centrum Europy; Wrocław: Via Nowa, 2001.
Biriulow J. Zygmunt Kurczyński and His Sculptural Works in Lviv // Buletyn Historii Sztuki, 1991.