Formation of the Street
Kleparivska Street is one of Lviv’s oldest arteries, leading from the city center northwestward. Its development is closely tied to the Klepariv area, which emerged as a separate settlement in the 14th century outside the city walls. The name is believed to derive from Hanko Klepper, a German burgher who established early households in the area.
Klepariv lay on a trade route toward Zhovkva and Belz and was favorably located between orchards and the floodplains of the Poltva River. In the 17th–18th centuries, this suburb housed mills, storehouses, military barracks, and prisons—most notably the infamous “Brygidky” prison.
In the second half of the 19th century, Kleparivska gradually became integrated into Lviv’s urban fabric. By the 1870s, two-story houses lined the street, and by the early 20th century, multi-story tenements began appearing. In 1931, the suburb was formally incorporated into the city.
Unlike other main streets, Kleparivska retained a mixed-use function into the mid-20th century, combining housing, workshops, and institutions. Today, it remains an important route connecting the city center to the northern districts.
Builders and Styles
Building No. 23 was erected circa 1905–1910 in the Secession style with Neo-Renaissance elements. Although the architect is unknown, the design suggests influence from Michał Łużecki or architects associated with the Lviv Polytechnic.
The three-story brick building features a symmetrical facade with two risalits (projecting bays), attic-level stucco ornamentation, and mascarons depicting stylized female heads. The interior includes enfilade-style apartments, spacious stairwells, and ceiling heights exceeding 4.3 meters.
Who Was the Owner?
The original owner is not recorded, but the building was clearly constructed as a rental tenement house. During the interwar period, it was inhabited by teachers, craftsmen, and civil servants. After World War II, the building was nationalized and converted into communal housing.
Today, the building is privately owned by its residents.
What Does the Building Look Like?
This is a three-story building with a symmetrical facade and Secession-style decorative elements: mascarons, geometric stucco, and emphasized attic lines. The projecting bays frame the main elevation. Original wooden doors and wrought iron railings have been partially preserved. The roof is gabled, with attic-level rooms.
Interesting Facts
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In the early 20th century, adjacent plots housed military barracks and storehouses.
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In the 1930s, an informal student literary circle operated in a second-floor apartment.
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The building underwent partial renovations in the 1950s but retained its overall appearance.
What Is There Now?
Today, the building serves as a residential property. Some ground-floor units host small offices or service businesses. The building remains structurally sound, with preserved planning and facade elements.
Bibliography
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Melnyk I. V. Streets and Tenement Houses of Lviv
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Lewicki Jakub. Między tradycją a nowoczesnością: Architektura Lwowa lat 1893–1918
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Księga adresowa miasta Lwowa (1935)
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Encyclopedia of Lviv, Vol. 2
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State Archive of the Lviv Region (fund 2, inventory 1)