Formation of the Street
Halytska Street is one of the oldest streets in Lviv, originating in the Middle Ages as part of the trade route from the city center to Halych — the capital of the former Galicia-Volhynia Principality. It was first mentioned in historical records in 1382. In medieval times, the street ended at the Halytska Gate — one of the main gates of the city’s fortifications. Through it passed the road to southern Ruthenian lands and later to Austrian and Hungarian territories.
Until the late 18th century, the street remained within the city’s walled center. In 1777, the Austrian authorities dismantled the old fortifications and gates, including the Halytska Gate. This allowed the street to expand southward beyond the medieval boundary.
In the 19th century, Halytska became a major city artery connecting Rynok Square with the newly planned Halytska Square. It developed into a prestigious district with apartment buildings, banks, administrative offices, shops, and cafes. The street was paved, equipped with electric lighting, and later served by trams.
By the early 20th century, the street had acquired its current appearance with monumental five-story residential buildings in the Secession style. Today, it forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Historic Centre of Lviv.
Architects and Styles
Building No. 21 was constructed in 1910 based on the design by renowned Lviv architects Józef Sosnowski and Alfred Zachariewicz. The building combines Art Nouveau with elements of late Secession. A distinctive feature is the rounded corner bay window topped with a two-tiered dome, emphasizing the building’s prominent location at a street intersection. The façade is adorned with relief sculptures of allegorical figures “Labor” and “Trade” by sculptor Zygmunt Kurchynski.
Ownership
In 1907, Teodor Balaban purchased two old buildings on this site, one dating back to 1798. After obtaining permission for demolition, he commissioned a new project, which was completed in 1910. In 1931, the ground floor was remodeled to house the City Municipal Savings Bank, designed by architect Wawrzyniec Dayczak. In Soviet times, the building housed administrative institutions. Today, it accommodates branches of Oschadbank and Ukrsibbank BNP Paribas Group, the Lviv City Social Welfare Department, and the publishing house “Svit.”
What Does the Building Look Like?
This is a five-story masonry building with a richly articulated façade. The corner bay window with its dome draws attention to the building’s urban prominence. The elevation features horizontal banding and stucco decoration. It is crowned with an undulating gable. The restrained yet symbolic ornamentation includes reliefs representing the pillars of urban prosperity — labor and commerce.
Interesting Facts
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The building stands on the historical site of the Halytska Gate, which functioned from the 15th to 18th centuries.
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The almost-erased commemorative plaque on the façade marks the headquarters of the Association of Lviv Defenders in 1920.
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One of the few surviving examples of monumental income-generating buildings in modernist style in central Lviv.
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The building is a protected architectural monument of local significance (registry number 66-М).
What Is There Now?
Today, Building No. 21 serves both residential and commercial functions. The ground floor houses banking offices, while the upper floors are occupied by apartments and administrative offices. Several spaces are used by city departments, including the Social Welfare Office.
Bibliography
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Architecture of Lviv: Time and Styles. XIII–XXI centuries / Ed. by M. Bevz, Yu. Biryulov et al. — Lviv: Center of Europe, 2008.
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Biryulov, Yu. Lviv: Architecture of the Late 19th – Early 20th Century. — Lviv: Center of Europe, 2010.
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Lemko, I., Mykhalyk, V. 1243 Streets of Lviv (1939–2009). — Lviv: Apriori, 2009.
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Lewicki, J. Between Tradition and Modernity: Architecture of Lviv 1893–1918. — Warsaw: Neriton, 2005.
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Address Book of the Royal Capital City of Lviv, 1932. — Lviv: Mutual Aid Society Publishing, 1932.