Street Formation
The building was erected on the eastern outskirts of Lviv along Lychakivska Street, one of the city’s oldest thoroughfares, which since the Middle Ages has led towards Vynnyky and further east. At the beginning of the 20th century, this part of Lychakiv was rapidly developed with villas, medical institutions, and military facilities. The sanatorium was built on a spacious, tree-lined plot near Kaiserwald (now Znesinnia Park), where clean air and a natural environment were considered essential elements of successful medical treatment.
Who Was the Owner?
The building was constructed in 1907–1908 (based on a design approved in 1908) for the Red Cross Sanatorium owned by the renowned Lviv physician Kazimierz Solecki. The project was designed by architect Oleksandr Lushpynskyi in the architectural bureau of Ivan Levynskyi, whose construction company also carried out the building works.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The former sanatorium is one of the finest examples of the Ukrainian Secession style in Lviv. Its architecture combines the principles of Art Nouveau with the Zakopane Style and motifs inspired by Hutsul vernacular architecture. The building features a steep, picturesque roof with towers, an asymmetrical composition, bay windows, carved wooden brackets, broad eaves, and ceramic ornamentation in green and yellow tones reminiscent of traditional Hutsul tiles. One of its most distinctive features is the ceramic inscription ANNO DOMINI MCMVIII, preserved on the façade and indicating the year of completion. In 1934, the building was extended with a third floor designed by architect Wawrzyniec Dayczak, while its characteristic silhouette remained largely unchanged.
Interesting Facts
- The building is one of the most remarkable examples of the fusion of European Art Nouveau with Ukrainian folk architectural traditions.
- Originally, its roof was covered with multicoloured ceramic tiles, enhancing its decorative appearance.
- During the First World War, the building served as an officers’ military hospital, and after the Second World War it continued to function as a military medical facility.
- It is listed in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine as a monument of architecture of local significance (protection No. 4897-Lv).
What Is It Today?
The building continues to serve a medical function. It is currently part of the medical facilities of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. In recent years, a restoration and adaptation project has been prepared for its historic staircase, including the installation of an elevator to improve accessibility while preserving the building’s architectural heritage.
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