1. Formation of the Street
General Chuprynka Street evolved as part of Lviv’s western expansion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It stretches from the city center into the Kulparkiv area — once a rural suburb that was rapidly urbanized due to the development of hospitals, schools, and infrastructure.
In the Austro-Hungarian period, the street was called Batorégasse, later renamed 29 Listopada during the Polish era. Under Soviet rule, it was known as Klyparivska, and in the 1990s it received its current name honoring General Taras Chuprynka (Roman Shukhevych), commander of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. The district remains notable for its early 20th-century urban villas and tenement buildings for Lviv’s professional class.
2. About the Building at 49 General Chuprynka St.
Builders and Styles
The building was constructed in 1908–1909 according to a design by architect Józef Piątkowski. It is a four-story tenement with a basement, built in the early 20th-century neoclassical style with clear German architectural influences. The project was approved by the Lviv magistrate on October 27, 1908.
The façade is set back from the street and designed with two risalits topped with pediments, between which sit wide open balconies. The interior features a spacious staircase hall and a longitudinal corridor, dividing rooms into two parallel wings — a typical layout for multi-unit dwellings of that era.
Who Was the Owner?
The building was co-owned by Helena and Stanisław Bromilski. Part of the residence was likely rented out, while some apartments may have been for their own use. After 1939, the building was nationalized. Today, it is used as a university building by Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.
What Does the Building Look Like?
This four-story structure features a raised base and symmetrical neoclassical façade. The vertical rhythm is defined by the two risalits and central balconies with metal railings. The top is crowned with a modest attic. The building is adorned with stucco reliefs and retains many original features. The interior is centered around a staircase and corridor plan typical for tenement houses of the early 1900s.
Interesting Facts
-
Architect Józef Piątkowski contributed to several notable early 20th-century buildings in Lviv.
-
The façade features decorative reliefs, a rare element in neoclassical architecture.
-
The building has been adapted for educational use without significant alteration, preserving its original character.
-
It is an example of pre-WWI bourgeois housing in Lviv.
What Is There Now?
Today, the building houses an academic department of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. It is in good condition, fully functioning, and preserved as part of Lviv’s architectural and cultural heritage. It belongs to the city’s protected historical area.
Bibliography
-
State Archive of Lviv Region (DALO) 2/2/2561
-
Melnyk I. Lviv’s Streets and Tenement Houses (Lviv: Center of Europe, 2008)
-
Biriulow J. Architecture of Lviv: Times and Styles