Formation of the Street
In the 16th century, what is now Copernicus Street was part of the “Sokilnytska Road,” which led to the village of Sokilnyky. Over the following centuries, historical buildings such as the Hospital of St. Lazarus appeared here. In 1871, the street was named after the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. By the late 19th century, it had become a central artery, attracting the elite with its greenery and tranquility.
During the German occupation in 1941, the street was renamed Kopernikusstrasse, but in 1944 it reverted to its previous name. In 1894, an electric tram line was introduced here, and today the street is served by key public transport routes.
Architects and Style
The building at 4 Copernicus Street was constructed in 1912–1914, designed by architects Józef Sosnowski and Alfred Zachariewicz in the modernist style.
Who Was the Owner?
It was built for the former Landowners’ Credit Association (Kredytowe Towarzystwo Ziemskie).
What Does the Building Look Like?
The building is five stories tall, brick-built with plastered facades and a high, sloping roof. It has a near-rectangular footprint and includes two narrow internal courtyards. The structure uses reinforced concrete, metal, and glass.
The central part of the facade facing Copernicus Street is marked by a grand entrance portal framed with massive pilasters and topped with a large attic featuring busts of Mercury.
The side facade on Bankivska Street includes two risalits and a projecting bay window in a restrained style. A driveway on the left leads to the internal courtyard. The facades are horizontally segmented by cornices and string courses. The windows are rectangular and unframed.
The core of the building’s layout features the main operations hall with a glazed cylindrical vault, along with a central staircase, vestibule, and meeting hall aligned along a central axis. Office spaces are arranged around these formal zones.
The interiors preserve ornamental wall paintings by K. Stafanovych and a mural by Z. Rozvadovskyi. Polychrome stone is widely used in the décor.
Two monumental sculptures of winged Mercury were created by Zygmunt Kurczyński.
The upper part of the side facade on Bankivska Street is adorned with four sculpted horse heads. Along the ground floor, arched display windows alternate with several side entrances decorated with elegant wrought-iron grilles. The main entrance leads into a spacious operations hall with a transparent roof. The interior features ornamental murals by Kajetan Stefanowicz and a mural created by Zygmunt Rozvadovsky.
Interesting Facts
During the Polish period, this address housed Jan Bujak’s warehouse for film and photo equipment and materials, as well as the factory division of the Żyrardów Industrial Association. During the Soviet era, it hosted the Lviv City Directorate and the Regional Office of the State Bank of the USSR.
What’s Here Now?
Today, the building houses the Lviv branch of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).
