Formation of the Street
Ivana Kotliarevskoho Street is one of the key avenues of the historical Kastelivka district in Lviv. Its development began in the late 19th to early 20th century as part of the city’s expansion beyond the medieval center. The area was once part of the Jesuit-owned Kastelivka estate, later parceled for urban development.
By the 1880s–1890s, the land was divided into plots, and planning of a “garden city” began under architects Julian and Alfred Zachariewicz and builder Ivan Levynskyi. Initially called “Na Villakh” (At the Villas), the street was renamed Nabielaka and, since 1946, has carried the name of Ukrainian writer Ivan Kotliarevsky.
The street is noted for its architectural variety — from Secession and Neo-Renaissance to early modernist and functionalist styles — set amid lush gardens and spacious lots, forming an outstanding example of integrated urban planning and landscape design.
Builders and Styles
Building No. 10 was erected between 1912 and 1914, designed by architect Ivan Bagenski in collaboration with Wojciech Dembiński. It combines elements of Art Nouveau and Classicism, featuring a symmetrical layout, profiled cornice with dentils, Ionic frieze, and rusticated corners.
Who Was the Owner?
Among the notable residents was Karol Edward Epler (1852–1916), a Polish railway engineer and vice-president of Lviv. Professors Alfred Denissot and Wacław Suchowiak from Lviv Polytechnic and architect Tadeusz Srodinski also lived in the building.
What Does the Building Look Like?
This is a three-story structure with a symmetrical facade. Its key elements include a broad profiled cornice with dentils, an Ionic frieze, and rectangular windows with stucco moldings. The first floor is emphasized with rustication, lending the structure a monumental appearance. The building has two entrances and retains original stairwell elements.
Interesting Facts
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The building is protected as a local architectural monument (No. 595-m).
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A laboratory of Lviv Polytechnic is currently located on the ground floor.
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The street is part of a designated historical ensemble with preservation status.
What Is There Now?
The building is partly residential and partly institutional: the university laboratory operates on the lower level, while upper floors house private apartments.
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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Kastelivka: The Modern Identity of a Lviv District.
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Register of Architectural Monuments of Lviv.