Formation of the Street
Zamarsynivska Street is one of the oldest streets in Lviv, dating back to the 14th century. It runs northward from the Old Market Square and was originally a road connecting the medieval city to surrounding suburbs and rural estates. The street’s name comes from the village of Zamarsyniv (Zamarstynów), founded in the mid-14th century on the site of an estate known as “Sommersteinhof,” owned by the German burgher Jan Sommerstein.
For centuries, the area served as a suburban zone with gardens, workshops, mills, and merchants. In the 18th–19th centuries, the surrounding territory remained semi-rural. In the 1870s, the street was paved, and in 1909, a tram line was installed, strengthening its role as a city artery.
In 1930, the village of Zamarsyniv was officially incorporated into Lviv. From then on, the street was rapidly built up with multi-story tenement houses in styles such as historicism, Secession, and early modernism. The early 20th-century buildings often featured sculptural façades, mascarons, high ceilings, and mixed-use ground floors.
Builders and Styles
The building at No. 3 was constructed around 1900–1910. It is a three-story brick structure with a plastered, symmetrical facade. Architecturally, it belongs to the Secession style with elements of decorative historicism.
The facade is marked by two projecting risalits, topped with attics adorned with large stucco mascarons depicting female faces. The ornamentation includes stylized motifs typical of Viennese Secession. The interior spaces have ceilings over 4 meters high, indicating a prestigious residence.
Who Was the Owner?
The original owner is unknown, but the house was likely built by a private investor as a rental property for both tenants and commercial users. In the interwar period, the ground floor hosted a vegetable shop, while upper floors housed members of the urban middle class.
After 1945, the property was nationalized and converted into communal apartments. Today, the building is in private ownership and managed by a condominium association (OSBB).
What Does the Building Look Like?
This is a three-story building with a symmetrical facade and two side risalits. The façade features stucco decorations and mascarons typical of Lviv’s Secession style. Rectangular windows, broad window sills, original woodwork, and large storefront windows characterize the first floor. The roof is gabled with dormer windows.
Interesting Facts
-
Zamarsynivska is one of the oldest street names in Lviv’s urban registry.
-
Building No. 3 forms a visual landmark at the beginning of the street, clearly visible from the Old Market Square.
-
Although the facade was partially altered during the Soviet period, its core design and decorations remain intact.
What Is There Now?
Today, the building serves as a residential property with commercial units on the ground floor. The premises are used for offices, shops, and service providers. The building is managed by a residents’ association, and restoration work is gradually being carried out.
Bibliography
-
Melnyk I. V. Streets and Tenement Houses of Lviv
-
State Archive of the Lviv Region (fund 2, inventory 1)
-
Lewicki Jakub. Między tradycją a nowoczesnością: Architektura Lwowa lat 1893–1918
-
Księga adresowa miasta Lwowa (1935)
-
Encyclopedia of Lviv, Vol. 2