Formation of the Street
Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street, formerly Zhovkivska Road, was one of Lviv’s oldest trade routes, connecting the city with Zhovkva and further north to Warsaw. Over time, it developed into a densely built urban corridor, especially in the area of the former suburb Zamarsyniv.
By the late 19th century, this part of the city was transformed into a mixed residential and industrial zone. With factories, workshops, and modest tenement houses, it became a working- and middle-class neighborhood. In 1946, the street was renamed after Bohdan Khmelnytsky, and much of its early 20th-century architecture has survived.
About the Building at 33 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho St.
Builders and Styles
The house was constructed in 1909, in the style of rational Art Nouveau with Neo-Renaissance elements, typical for Lviv’s income housing. It is a four-story tenement building designed for functionality and moderate ornamentation.
Architectural features include a symmetrical façade, decorative balconies, and stucco reliefs. The overall composition emphasizes verticality and practical layout, with classical elements such as cornices, pilasters, and molded window surrounds.
Who Was the Owner?
The original owner was likely a small-scale private investor or city resident, who built the property as a rental house. This investment pattern was widespread in Lviv in the early 1900s.
During the interwar period, tenants included teachers, clerks, and shopkeepers, and after 1939, the property was nationalized. In Soviet times, it remained a residential building with multiple tenants.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The building has four stories and a high basement, with a plastered brick façade. It features a central entrance, bay windows, iron-railed balconies, and modest decorative details. Inside are marble stairs, terrazzo flooring, and original wooden doors and stoves in some units.
The stairwell is illuminated naturally and maintains many early 20th-century features, including molded ceilings and forged railings.
Interesting Facts
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A typical example of middle-class tenement housing in early 20th-century Lviv.
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Before 1939, the building was home to Jewish families involved in craft and commerce in the Pidzamche area.
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After WWII, the flats were mostly inhabited by industrial and utility workers.
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Despite some wear, the building has retained much of its original décor.
What Is There Now?
Today, the house functions as a residential building. Many apartments have been privatized, and the ground floor includes small workshops and offices. The exterior is in fair condition, and restoration efforts are ongoing. The property is located within Lviv’s historical heritage zone and represents a valuable piece of the city’s early modern residential architecture.
Bibliography
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Biriulow J. Architecture of Lviv: Times and Styles
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Melnyk I. Lviv: Architectural Mosaic
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Vuytsyk V. Architectural Ensembles of Lviv
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Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Lviv