Formation of the Street
Kyivska Street is located in the Halytskyi District of Lviv, within the historical area known as Novyi Svit, which began active development in the second half of the 19th century after the expansion of the railway and transportation infrastructure. Originally, this area was a rural suburb, but with the growing population and western expansion of Lviv, it was transformed into a modern urban district.
The street was officially named “Kyivska” in the 1890s in honor of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, as part of a broader trend of promoting national identity through toponymy. Prior to that, the area consisted of unnamed rural paths leading from the Sobieski estate.
The street’s architecture largely dates from the late 19th to early 20th centuries and is a showcase of residential Art Nouveau (Secessionist) architecture. Architects working here often experimented with decorative facades, angular forms, and ornamental motifs, making Kyivska Street a living gallery of early modernist design.
Builders and Styles
The building at 27 Kyivska Street (also addressed as 11 Yevhena Konovaltsia Street) was constructed in 1909–1911, designed by architect Stanisław Borkowski. Sculptural details were crafted by Teobald Orkashevych. The building is a representative example of Lviv Secession with historicist influences. Its decorations reference the November Uprising of 1830–1831, notably the mace-topped dome and coats of arms representing former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth lands.
Who Was the Owner?
In 1912, the plot was owned by Tadeusz Tadaner, a wealthy townsman and property investor. He owned several adjacent plots which he developed throughout the early 1900s.
What Does the Building Look Like?
This is a corner four-story tenement crowned with a dome topped by a mace. Its facades are adorned with sculptural elements, including the coats of arms of Ruthenia (Archangel Michael) and Lithuania (Pahonia). Traces of a removed Polish eagle emblem can still be seen on the side façade.
Interesting Facts
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The building is designated as a local architectural monument
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In the 1910s, it housed a Froebel-style kindergarten.
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Its decorative program reflects the ideals of Polish national revival and remembrance of liberation movements.
What Is There Now?
Today, the building houses office spaces, a notary’s office, and private businesses. Some apartments remain in residential use.
Bibliography
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Architecture of Lviv: Time and Styles. 13th–21st centuries. — Lviv: Center of Europe, 2008.
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Historical Suburbs of Lviv: Pidzamche, Klepariv, Novyi Svit. — Lviv, 2014.
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Streets of Lviv: A Handbook. — Lviv: Litopys, 2001.
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Secession in Lviv: Urban Space and Architecture. — Lviv: City Institute, 2010.
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Photo Album “Lviv in the Style of Modernism”. — Lviv: Pyramid Press, 2012.