Formation of the Street
Akademika Hnatyuka Street is one of the central streets of Lviv, located between Svobody Avenue and Ivan Franko Park. It originated in the 16th century as an unpaved road leading from the city walls to the suburban estate of Lviv burgher Stanzel Scholz. In 1602, the territory was purchased by the Jesuits, who established the Jesuit Garden — a large park that would later become Ivan Franko Park.
Throughout its history, the street underwent numerous name changes. In the 17th–18th centuries, it was known as Jesuit or Post-Jesuit Street. During the Austro-Hungarian period, it was renamed Jagiellon Street, in honor of the Polish royal dynasty. Under Soviet rule, it was known as Gorky Street, and during the Nazi occupation, as Polizeigasse.
In 1991, the street was named after Volodymyr Hnatyuk (1871–1926), a Ukrainian folklorist, ethnographer, literary scholar, and a key figure in the Shevchenko Scientific Society. Though not directly associated with the development of the street, Hnatyuk’s name symbolizes the restoration of Ukrainian heritage in Lviv’s public space after the country regained independence.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the street became one of Lviv’s most representative locations. It was lined with townhouses of wealthy citizens, hotels, cinemas, department stores, and key public institutions. Architecturally, the street is a prime example of the fusion of Art Nouveau, Neoclassicism, and early Modernism.
Builders and Styles
Building No. 20–22 was constructed in 1911, designed by architects Ferdinand Kassler and Roman Feliński. The project was commissioned by the Grüner family and carried out by the construction firm of Michał Ulam. The architectural style is Art Nouveau with Neoclassical elements. Its massing is symmetrical, with deep bay windows, balconies with wrought-iron railings, and a monumental portal.
The façade is decorated with sculptural elements by Zygmunt Kurczyński. Particularly notable are the Egyptian-style statues flanking the main entrance — a rare motif in Lviv’s residential architecture of the time.
Who Was the Owner?
The lot belonged to Jakub and Klara Grüner, Jewish entrepreneurs. In 1910, they demolished two old townhouses and commissioned the construction of a new multifunctional building. The project included cellars and beer halls, ground-floor shops, a cinema and café, and upper-floor rental apartments.
What Does the Building Look Like?
The five-story building has an H-shaped plan. The central entrance portal is arched, with expressive decorative sculpture. The windows are both arched and rectangular, framed by stucco moldings with Art Nouveau motifs. Bay windows and balconies feature ornate wrought-iron railings. Inside, the stairwell retains original features such as plasterwork, tiling, wooden railings, and doors.
Interesting Facts
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In 1911, the “Wunderland” cinema opened on the ground floor; it was later renamed “Jagiellonian.”
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During the Soviet period, the building housed the city’s railway ticket offices.
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It is listed as a local architectural monument (Protection No. 770-m).
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It is one of the few buildings in Lviv to feature Egyptian-themed iconography on the façade.
What Is There Now?
Today, Building No. 20–22 is used as a mixed residential-commercial facility. The ground floor houses shops, offices, and service businesses, while the upper floors contain apartments. The building has retained its historic architectural character and remains a landmark in central Lviv.
Bibliography
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Architecture of Lviv: Time and Styles. 13th–21st 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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Gierszewska, B. Cinema and Film in Lviv before 1939. — Kielce: Świętokrzyska Academy Publishing House, 2006.