Formation of the Street
Bohomoltsia Street in Lviv developed within the so-called villa district of Novyi Svit, which was actively built up in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Previously, this area was part of the suburb known as Novyi Svit, which began to develop in the second half of the 19th century as Lviv expanded beyond its historic center.
Initially, the street was named Ferdinand Street (in honor of Emperor Ferdinand I), and during the interwar period, it was called Stefan Batory Street. After World War II, it was renamed in honor of Academician Oleksandr Bohomolets, a prominent Ukrainian scientist, pathophysiologist, and president of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR.
Bohomoltsia Street was designed as part of an elite residential area intended for intellectuals, professors, wealthy entrepreneurs, and officials. The area predominantly features villa-style buildings in the styles of modernism, historicism, and early functionalism.
The street’s layout follows the natural terrain: it runs from east to west with a gentle curve, giving it a cozy, intimate character. Spatially, the street connects the modern streets of General Chuprynka, Konovalets, and Kotliarevskyi, forming an important intra-quarter link.
Today, the street retains its historical atmosphere and holds protected status as part of Lviv’s architectural heritage.
Builders and Styles
The building at 9 Akademika Bohomoltsia Street in Lviv was constructed in 1905 by the architectural bureau of Ivan Levynskyi for the firm “Elster and Topf,” whose co-owners were Izrael and Salomon Elster, as well as Leon Topf. This three-story tenement house is executed in the style of ornamental Secession. The building’s facade is adorned with stucco and wrought metal elements characteristic of this style. It is recognized as a local architectural monument (protection number 9).
Who Was the Owner?
The initial owners were Izrael and Salomon Elster, along with Leon Topf. By the 1930s, the building was owned by Tadeusz Höflinger, an entrepreneur and advisor to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
What Does the Building Look Like?
This three-story structure is built of brick and plastered. The facade features a rusticated ground floor, pilasters on the upper floors, stylized window frames, and pediments. Above the broad cornice is a stylized neo-Baroque attic. The decor includes stucco flowers in the window frames, in the frieze under the cornice, and on the attic, as well as wrought metal elements for the balcony railings. The interior preserves two stained glass windows from 1904 with etched designs.
Interesting Facts
The building was constructed in conjunction with the neighboring tenement at number 11 and the paper factory building owned by the firm “Elster and Topf.” Due to their design, the two tenements appear as a cohesive whole.
What Is Here Now?
Currently, the building houses the Lviv City Prosecutor’s Office and the Lviv State Institute for Municipal Construction Design “Lvivpromkomunbud.”
Sources
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State Archives of the Lviv Region (DALO) 2/1/130: 12, 15–21, 29–30.
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Almanach Żydowski by Herman Stachl (Lwów, 1937).
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Kotlobulatowa, I., Lwów on Old Postcards (Kraków, 2002).
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Address Book of the Royal Capital City of Lviv, 1914.
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Lewicki, Jakub. Between Tradition and Modernity: Architecture of Lviv, 1893–1918 (Warsaw: Society for the Protection of Monuments, Neriton Publishing House, 2005), p. 260.