Formation of the Street
Nalyvaika Street, located in the very center of Lviv’s historic downtown, was formed in the mid-19th century as part of the expansion of the Krakivske Suburb. Its original name — Riznytska (Butchers’ Street) — derived from the meat stalls and butcher shops once located here. Despite being a short street, it held strategic significance, linking the Old Market Square with the emerging administrative and commercial core of the city — Kopernyka Street and the theatre district.
In the second half of the 19th century, the street was actively developed with income-generating tenement houses designed for the urban middle class, predominantly members of Lviv’s Jewish community. In 1950, the street was renamed in honor of Severyn Nalyvaiko, a Cossack leader and commander of a major uprising at the end of the 16th century. This renaming was part of a broader Soviet-era effort to emphasize Ukrainian identity within an ideological framework.
Nalyvaika Street is a typical example of Lviv’s “inner” alleys that have preserved their historical density, narrow layout, and intimate atmosphere. The dominant architectural styles are Secession (Art Nouveau) with elements of Historicism.
Builders and Styles
The building was constructed in 1907 by the architectural firm of Ivan Levynskyi, based on a design by architect Tadeusz Obmiński, in the Viennese Secession style. It was commissioned by wine merchant Jakub-Samuel and his wife Chana-Paya Hübel as an income-generating tenement. The façade is adorned with natural-themed majolica tile friezes.
Who Was the Owner?
Since 1908, building No. 11 housed the office of the Zionist-aligned Lviv rabbinate, a Hebrew language school (headed by Itzhak Even), and the rabbinical study society “Marbitzei Torah.” In the inner courtyard, the “Olesker Klaus” synagogue was built in 1913. In 1935, the owner of the building remained Jakub-Samuel Hübel. By 1939, the property had passed to his heirs: Ignacy Hübel (who owned all of building No. 9 and two floors of No. 11), and Debora Mermelstein, who owned one floor.
What Does the Building Look Like?
This is a three-story building with an attic, featuring a symmetrical façade characteristic of Lviv’s Secession architecture from 1890–1910. The balconies are adorned with wrought ironwork, and the entrance gate is a massive wooden door with authentic metal fittings. Most original elements have been preserved or carefully restored in recent renovations.
Interesting Facts
The building stands on the site of the former Jewish quarter, near the historical Feller Passage (no longer extant), which was once a vibrant hub of Jewish entrepreneurship in Lviv.
What Is There Now?
Building No. 11 on Nalyvaika Street remains a residential property. It houses private apartments, and its ground floor is occupied by small commercial units — including offices, a salon, and a small shop.
References
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Nalyvaika Street (Lviv) — Wikipedia
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Lviv m Nalyvaika Street — Pradidivska Slava
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Streets of Lviv. Nalyvaika Street — YouTube